Jim McGraw

ARNOLD JAMES McGRAW "JIM"

Age 69 of Kankakee and formerly Wilmington, passed away Saturday March 11, 2006 at his home.

Born March 15, 1936 in Detroit, Jim was a son of the late John and Minnie (Keck) McGraw. He was a 1954 graduate of Wilmington High School and attended Hampton Institute, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration. Jim was a veteran of the US Army having served two tours in Vietnam, as well as a tour in Germany. It was in the service that Jim became a pilot and flew numerous missions obtaining a Bronze Star, Air Medal, four Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal with V-Device, Sr .Army Aviator Badge and Vietnam Service Medal, just to name a few. In Jim's 21 years of Service to the US Army he earned the rank of Major and later became the corporate pilot for the Daily Journal Newspaper of Kankakee, where he flew for the past 20 years. Jim was a member and past Master of the Wilmington Masonic Lodge and member of the Shrine Club of Kankakee, the Vintage Squadron of Kankakee, the Shamrock Golf Club and the Ritchie United Methodist Church. He was inducted into Military Aviation Hall of Fame of Illinois in 1990 and Jim was an avid golfer.

Survivors include his loving wife of 49 years: Joanna (nee Huston); one son Michael J. (Kim) McGraw of Pontiac; one daughter: Debra (John) Lollar of Wilmington; two grandchildren: Jennifer (Jon) French of Oklahoma and Kaitlin McGraw of Pontiac; two great grandchildren: Alexa and Gregory French; four sisters-in-law and five brothers-in-law, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: Jack and Gene McGraw.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday March 14, 2006 from 2-7PM with a Masonic service at 6PM at Reeves Funeral Home in Wilmington. Funeral services will follow on Wednesday March 15th at 10AM in the funeral home with Rev. Oren Banks officiating.

Burial with full military honors will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Wilmington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made as gifts in Jim's memory to Hospice of Kankakee or American Cancer Society.

Funeral services and arrangements are under the direction of Reeves Funeral Home in Wilmington