Rawlings, John Graham's Obituary
JOHN GRAHAM RAWLINGS
MARCH 15, 1951 – FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Longtime Coronado resident John Graham Rawlings (“JR”) passed away from cancer on February 28, 2025 at his home in Coronado, California. His wife Jan and daughter Alexandra were at his side “stuck like glue”, laughing at his jokes as he braved the last week of his life. JR said he was a lucky man to have lived a long life filled with wonderful family, friends, and community. He was a blue-eyed charmer - smart, funny, and a true “people person”. He could find common ground with anyone and relished sharing stories and tall tales along the way.
JR was born March 15, 1951,in Pueblo Colorado, to parents Robert Hoag Rawlings and Mary Alexandra “Sandy” Graham, the second of four siblings including Jane, Callie and Bobby. His Rocky Mountain roots led him to enjoy many seasons of horseback riding, skiing, and Yellowstone shenanigans. He celebrated the Native American influence in art and culture including Hopi jewelry, Navaho blankets and R.C. Gorman paintings. He appreciated both the whisper of the Aspen trees, and a Willie Nelson round up at Red Rocks. Some of his fondest memories were in Beulah, Colorado, his family’s mountain summer home, where several generations of extended family gathered each year.
JR graduated from Colorado State University, Fort Collins in 1973, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He sharpened his media chops at a few local newspapers in Colorado before returning home to work at Rawlings’ family-owned The Pueblo Chieftain Newspaper. On May 2, 1983, he welcomed the birth of his first daughter Reagan Kathleen.
A few years later, a brief trip to visit friends in San Diego opened a new chapter in his life. JR moved to Coronado, California and began a 25-year career working for the San Diego Union-Tribune where he met his wife, Jan Hall. They married in1991 at the Hotel Del Coronado and celebrated the birth of their daughter Alexandra Lucy on June 3, 1994. The family thrived in the scenic, family-friendly beach town where JR was a happy man.
JR’s greatest passions were the Denver Broncos, San Diego Padres, and the political headlines from multiple newspapers he read each day. Above all else, he was a committed, loving, inspiring family man who adored his wife and daughters and was cherished in return.
He is survived by his wife Jan, daughters Alexandra Rawlings and Reagan Littlefield (Sam), grandchildren, Sadie and Bubba, siblings Callie Temple (Ken), Jane Dill (Dave), and Bobby Rawlings (Amy), Frankie, the wonder dog, and lots of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends from the mountains to the sea. A special thank you to Ellie and John Nolan for their kindness. Also, to Callie and Beth for their warmth and love.
JR’s favorite charity was Tunnels to Towers. The family will plan a future celebration of life.
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