Pete attended and remained a faithful member of the Church of Christ from childhood until his death, and served with the Northside Church of Christ in Spokane for the last 12 years. He loved and supported the Good News Medical Clinic in Mandaue City, Cebu in the Philippines which was overseen by his good friends, Bob and Glenna Marshall. Bob preceded him in death in July of 2000. Pete spent a month at the clinic in the Philippines in 1999.Pete coveted time with his family members, especially his five grandchildren, Tyler, Colby, Camri, Cooper and Tucker. He loved camping at Priest Lake, Idaho, and spent a couple of weeks there every summer, making sure grandkids were always around. He always told them “I love you TOOOO much!”Pete is survived by his wife Bari, son Philip, daughter Polly, daughter-in-law Carla and son-in-law Bradley; his 5 grandchildren, his brother Elmer (Skip) Graves, and sisters Shirley Owens and Carolyn Burke, one aunt, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, all who love him dearly.A memorial service was held Monday, April 28 at 4 PM at the Northside Church of Christ, 5601 N. Jefferson, Spokane (99205). Contributions to the Good News Medical Clinic may be made in his memory through the Northside church, with checks made to the clinic.A memorial service will be held in California in a month or so. Information will follow.
Obituaries
April 30, 2003
Obituaries
Edgar Dale (Pete) Graves (age 57)
Pete lived in Spokane, Washington from 1991 until he passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2003. While maintaining a home a Spokane, he and his wife had an apartment in Seattle from 1994 until 1997.He was born in Santa Paula, California on August 18, 1945 and lived there until he was a senior in high school. His parents Elmer Theodore and Ethelmae Graves preceded him in death in 1976 and 1987 respectively. Pete graduated from King City, CA High School in 1963, then attended Hartnell Jr. College in Salinas, CA for a brief period before joining the Marine Corps in 1964. Pete served in the “Corps” until 1967; he served in Vietnam for 13 months of that time and earned a Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, both 1st and 2nd Award Vietnam Service Medals, and a Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was eligible for a Purple Heart but declined as he thought those who gave their lives deserved it more than he.Pete married Bari Cordia Williams on August 27, 1967 in Santa Barbara, California. He and his wife Bari remained best friends throughout the rest of his life.One of Pete’s favorite jobs was driving trucks - he worked for several companies throughout his lifetime, including United Van Lines.He served as a Deputy Sheriff for Santa Barbara County in California from 1970 until 1976. During that time he was a leader of a law enforcement Explorer Post.In 1976 Pete was hired by the Smithsonian Institution to perform at a festival in Washington DC honoring the country’s Bicentennial celebration by singing and playing on his guitar songs he had composed.Pete began his career working for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in Lompoc, California in 1977. The Bureau transferred him to facilities in Bastrop, Texas, El Reno, Oklahoma, Morgantown, West Virginia and Sheridan, Oregon. In Sheridan Pete opened the facility as the prison’s first Captain.Pete began having heart problems while living in Oregon, and due to the stress of his work, was transferred to Community Corrections through the BOP in Spokane, Washington. He finished his career at the Community Corrections office in Seattle with 20 years of service in 1997. Pete enjoyed retirement for a couple of years, then began working for CCCS at Martin Hall Juvenile Facility in Medical Lake, Washington. At the time of his death he was Executive Director of the facility.
