Charlotte M. (Crandall) Graves

Ware - Charlotte M. “Stubby” (Crandall) Graves passed away quietly at home with her family on October 24.  She was born in Hartford, CT, the daughter of Albert and Dorothy (Brown) Crandall and grew up in Braintree, MA, and graduated from Thayer Academy and Colby College.  In 1951, she married Harold O. “Jim” Graves, who remained her first love and best friend for 64 years.  During their early years of marriage, they lived in Wilbraham, Amherst and Easthampton while Jim was a teacher and coach at Wilbraham Academy and Williston Academy, and then moved to Ware in 1958 when Jim joined the Ware Savings Bank.

Charlotte was a member of the United Church of Ware and in 1968, at the suggestion of Rev. Warren Jensen, established a local chapter of Operation Friendship in Ware, a youth exchange program for young people to learn about cultures of other countries and develop friendships around the world.  She was a member of the Ware Camera Club, Ware Social Science Club, and Mary Lane Hospital Auxiliary, as well as a dedicated volunteer at the hospital for over 40 years.  In 1963 she initiated Story Hour for children at the Young Men’s Library Association, which has continued on since then, and she was the first female member of the library’s Board of Directors, serving as treasurer for over three decades.

Charlotte is survived by four daughters, Susan Voss and her husband Gary of Peterborough, NH; Cindy Bernhardt and her husband Peter of S. Burlington, VT; Martha Robertson and her husband Peter of Peru, VT; and Laura Manchester and her husband Scott of Hillsdale, NY; her brother, James L. Crandall and his wife Elaine of Lexington, MA, and a granddaughter Kate Bernhardt of S. Burlington, VT. 

A celebration of life will be held at 12 p.m. on November 4 at the United Church of Ware on Church Street in Ware, MA.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Young Men’s Library Assoc., 37 Main St., Ware, MA 01082; Shedd Free Library, 46 No. Main St., Washington, NH 03280; or Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, 85 South St., Ware, MA 01082.  Charbonneau Funeral Home in Ware is taking care of her funeral arrangements.