Violet "Vi" Graf's Obituary
Violet Viola Starkey was born in South Dakota on a farm with three sisters and one brother. She taught school in a one-room schoolhouse to children in 1st through 8th grades. When World War II broke out and her future husband, Glenn Graf, got called to duty in North Africa and Italy. Vi eventually moved to San Diego to work in an aircraft factory. She married Glenn after the War ended and they decided to remain in San Diego. They bought a house and started their family of two boys, one named Gary and the other Gregory. Gary passed away of Leukemia at the age of 11, leaving Greg at 8 years old.Vi devoted her energies towards Greg and packing great lunches and preparing family dinners. Greg always had the best Halloween costumes and cleanest Little League uniforms. Vi taught Greg how to drive a stick shift car in the family driveway. When she would bake it seems there was always extra crusts with cinnamon and sugar. Vi worked in school cafeterias and made many great friends and solid memories. She made sure to work near or at the school Greg was attending.Vi was always involved with activities and baking. Vi had the best peanut brittle and caramel corn that made the holidays extra special. Camping and fishing trips to Northern California for salmon on the Klamouth River were a family tradition. When they found native raspberries there, she made them into excellent cobbler. She would decorate a cake with the Barbie doll sticking out of the center for birthday cakes. Vi did an excellent job of writing poetry for special occasions. Vi could hold her own on the Saturday night poker games with friends. Vi’s 40th wedding anniversary was a big celebration of course and a big milestone for them.Vi was then blessed with two granddaughters, Zesty and Chelsea that were the joy of her life. She had a tradition of picking them up from school on Thursdays, making dinner for the whole family, then bringing them back to her house on Friday night for sleepovers. She baked goodies for every birthday and special occasion. Vi was always there to give advice to the girls and only begrudgingly let them go off and attend school.Later in life, Vi was again blessed with three great-granddaughters; Aubrey (9), Lilly (6), and Penelope (2). She moved to Escondido in 2009 to be closer to everyone and her great-granddaughters were able to visit her regularly.Vi lived a long and full life. She brightened up every room she was in and had many adventures. We thank the nursing caregivers and administrators at Oak Hill Residential for the many years of excellent care that enhanced Vi’s health and longevity.
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