Bradford R. Graves, age 74, passed away unexpectedly, January 8, 2025, in his home in Winchendon, Massachusetts. Brad was born April 19,1950, and lived his younger years in Whitinsville, Massachusetts where he enjoyed Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, coin collecting, camping, Little League, basketball and swimming at the “Gym”, Demolay, Boys Trade where he became an expert craftsman in woodworking then graduated in 1968. After school he worked at Philips Market and on Saturdays he worked at Uncle Dick’s Frame Shop. Brad attended Worcester Junior College after High School. He was the 4th generation in the Graves family to work at Whitin Machine Works. Brad’s young adult years included adventures with his endless list of friends. He often recalled his yearlong cross-country road trip when he spent that winter in Long Beach, California with Aunt Gwen. The family has heard the crazy stories from his Woodstock ‘69 road trip, his summer building houses on Deer Isle, Maine, and the night he got caught by his Aunt Nancy, drag racing past Miscoe Springs! 

After Brad met Diane they built their Winchendon home during nights and weekends while he was employed at Worcester State Hospital as a social coordinator. He took great pride in the quality of his workmanship and took part in building many other homes as well. His house building days morphed into his years as a realtor and selling energy-efficient home products. In his later years, he was a long-distance driver for special needs students. Brad and Diane surprised everyone when they eloped and honeymooned throughout Europe in 1986. Brad was a loving and caring stay-at-home Dad to Jesse and Cody. The boys enjoyed camping, traveling, scouting, music lessons, and their backyard pool with their Dad. Brad encouraged his sons to do well in school and made sure they graduated from college. 

Brad was a charmer. He engaged with people and made friends wherever he went until the very end. He was beloved by all. Brad had many passions, a true "Renaissance Man". He loved boating and captained his boat the “Miss Muriel” (named for his mother) around Mount Desert Island, Maine, for many summers. He followed politics with zeal. He studied World War II and honored his Father’s WWII service by saving and displaying his Dad’s memorabilia, letters, uniform, and medals in his home. Brad was a true patriot, and wanted nothing more than for America to thrive. He enjoyed the Beatles most notably, and many other bands of the 1960s and 1970s era. But the two things he loved the most were proudly attending Jesse’s guitar concerts and gigs and traveling with Cody. Brad provided unconditional support for Jesse’s musical talents throughout his older son’s life. Brad traveled many summers with Cody extensively throughout Europe, focusing on historical places and events. His younger son remembers these trips fondly and is certain that those travels helped shape Cody into the man he is today.

As a life-long passion, Brad had a photographic memory about cars. He could remember every detail of every car that every family member and friend ever drove. As a kid, he could rattle off the makes and models of cars that passed the family car on the highways and every antique in  every Fourth of July parade. He bought his first car before he had his license and meticulously detailed all his cars. To this day, his collection of model toy cars and trucks remain on display in his home. 

Brad measured his life in celebrations. He loved holidays, weddings, birthdays, reunions, and even funerals. From time to time, Brad would gather a few old friends from Whitinsville and celebrate the past.  He called it a drive “down memory lane”. They’d reminisce as they passed their old haunts and through Pine Grove Cemetery to pay respects to their families.

Brad is predeceased by his parents Roland B. Graves and Muriel E. (Kollet) Graves of Whitinsville, Massachusetts. He leaves his sons, Jesse Graves and his wife Jennafer (Letendre) Graves of Gardner, Massachusetts and Cody Graves of Gardner, Massachusetts, his former wife, Diane M. Lent of Arundel, Maine, his sisters, Bonnie G. Wilder and her husband John W. Wilder of Wayne, Maine and Hernando, Florida and Brenda R. Alexander and her life partner Terry Reiber, of Amherst, New Hampshire and formerly of Duxbury, Massachusetts, nephews Lance Wilder of Burbank, California, Keith Wilder of Elgin, South Carolina, and Benjamin Alexander of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and 3 grand nephews, 4 grand nieces, and 1 great-grand niece.

Calling hours will be Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 10 a.m.-12 noon followed by a funeral service at 12 noon at Carr Funeral Home, 24 Hill Street, Whitinsville, MA. 

Brad’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Heart of New England Council’s Camp Wanocksett. Donations can be made online at https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/230/appeal/4892 or by sending checks (payable to “Heart of New England Council”) to Heart of New England Council, ATTN: Tributes, 394 Pleasantdale Road, Rutland, MA 01543.