David Lee Graves

David Lee Graves, age 86, of Asheboro, died Jan. 17, 2024, at Brookdale Asheboro.

Graves was born in Randolph County to Harwood Leach Graves and Alice Hunt Graves. He graduated from Seagrove High School in 1954 and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina in 1958. 

He served in the United States Army with the rank of Specialist 4 from 1958 to 1961, stationed at the Nike missile base in Plainville, CT, and at NATO Headquarters Southeast in Izmir, Turkey.

He was employed as an industrial engineer at Burlington Industries from 1961 to 1988, beginning at the Klopman Mills plant in Asheboro and later at Burlington’s overseas operations in Frosinone, Italy, and near Limerick, Ireland. Thereafter he worked for Precision Fabrics in Greensboro and in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

He was retired from Asheboro City Schools as in-school suspension assistant at Asheboro High School. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where he had served as chairman of the Church Council.

In 1958, David married Janet Lucas, who died in 2011. In 2013, he married Ann Ward Johnson, who survives him. Other survivors include: sons, David Lucas Graves and spouse John F. Herrmann of Arlington, VA, Christopher Leach Graves and wife Lynette of Asheboro; grandson, Adam Christopher Graves and wife Jennifer of Chapel Hill; stepdaughter, Kathy Hyler of Kinston; stepsons, Brian Holt and wife Karen of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Kevin Holt of Asheboro; sisters, Carolyn Russell and husband Barry of Cornelius, Sharon Michaels and husband Mike of Seagrove, Ann Wayland and husband Ed of Savannah, Jean Beacham of Davidson.

The family will receive friends Thursday, Jan. 25, at 1 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. in the chapel, with the Rev. Lonnie Pittman of Central Methodist Church officiating. Burial will take place at a later date.