Blanche Whisenant Graham

Blanche Whisenant Graham, 85, of Baytown, passed away on March 8, 2009.

She was born in Kerens, Navarro County, on Sept. 19, 1923, to Henry Lloyd Whisenant and Gladys June Foster. She grew up in Tyler, where she received her training as a medical laboratory technologist. During World War II, she worked in the medical lab at Camp Fannin.

On Jan. 18, 1945, Blanche married the love of her life, Arthur Milford Graham of Athens, who was serving in the Navy. Shortly after his discharge, they moved to a small home in Highlands. After a few years, they again moved to Baytown, where they lived the rest of their lives. In 1948, a daughter, Euna June Graham, was born to Blanche and Milford.

In 1955, Blanche returned to her career, working at San Jacinto Hospital on Decker Drive, Baytown, where she worked for about 25 years. Blanche and Milford were members of Cedar Bayou United Methodist Church and later St. Paul's United Methodist Church. When St. Paul's United Methodist Church closed, her membership transferred to St. Mark's United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Goose Creek Chapter.

Blanche was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and she will be remembered for her kind and generous heart.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Milford Graham; mother and father, Gladys June Foster and Henry Lloyd Whisenant; sisters, Reba Faye Whisenant and Rebecca Ann White; brother, Richard Whisenant; and stepmother, Lena Shiflet Whisenant.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Euna June Graham and John Dunkleman of Baytown; granddaughter and her husband, Judy Lynn Bennett and David Brechtel of Baytown; grandson and his wife, Jonathan Graham Bennett and Jennifer Chandler of Kempner; six great-grandchildren, Zachary Brechtel, Jacob Brechtel, Jonathan Austin Bennett, Ethan Bennett, Micah Bennett and Elizabeth Smith; sisters and brothers-in-law, Christine and David Wein of Colorado Springs, Colo., Molly Wyatt of Tyler, Laverne and Michael Gollob of Tyler, and Betty and Johnny Crossland of Longview.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Earthman Funeral Home, Baytown.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2009, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 3811 N. Main St., Baytown.

Arrangements are under the direction of Earthman Funeral Home, 3919 Garth Road, Baytown, 77521; 281-422-8181.