Shirley Darlene Graff

Shirley Darlene Graff of Winona Lake, Indiana passed away at 4:24 p.m. on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana at the age of 88.

She was born on July 31, 1935, in Milford, Indiana to Sarah Ann (Gerber) Slabaugh and Roman Edward Slabaugh.  Shirley was a 1954 graduate of Milford High School.  After graduation at the young age of 18, she married Roger Bird Graff on July 3, 1954, in Milford.  They were blessed with two children, shared the joy of becoming grandparents and great-grandparents, celebrated many birthdays, holidays, family gatherings and everything in between.  Roger passed away on September 21, 2007, and had 53 years of marriage to be proud of. 

Shirley lived in Milford for many years working at The Paper until moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1976.  She was very good with her hands and detail work and enjoyed her job at Hobby Lobby as a framer.  Shirley loved doing crafts, sewing, knitting and crocheting and many family members were recipients of her loving creations.  She loved serving the Lord and was very active in her church home at Milford Christian Church and Cedar Creek Church of Christ in Fort Wayne.  She moved to Winona Lake, Indiana in 2015 to be with her family.  Shirley will forever be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend to many. 

She leaves behind her daughter, Rhonda (Tom) Edgington (Winona Lake, IN); son, Rick (Sonji) Graff (Warsaw, IN); seven grandchildren, Jason Graff, Kyle (Jodie) Graff, Sara (Luke) Minear, Brandi (Tim) Wright, Nicole (Micah) Nightingale, Brittney (Matt) Abernethy and Nathaniel (Kelly) Raber; and twenty-five great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are two sisters, Dot Boyd (Sebring, FL); Pat Yeater (Chandler, AZ).  She was preceded in death by her husband, brother and one sister.

Shirley’s life will be celebrated with a service at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road in Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Pastor Tim Wright.  Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.  A private family graveside service will take place at a later date at Milford Cemetery in Milford, Indiana. 

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