LONGTIME BUSINESSMAN, CIVIC LEADER DAVID GRAVES IS DEAD

Longtime Cape Girardeau businessman and civic leader David Allen Graves died Sunday at the Chateau Girardeau Health Center.

He was 86.

Graves was a member and volunteer with numerous city organizations. He was manager of the Montgomery Ward store in downtown Cape Girardeau until his retirement in 1969 and executive vice president of the Downtown Merchants Association from 1970 to 1989.

He was a former director of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Missouri Fair Association. He served three terms on the board of the Greater Cape Girardeau Development Corporation and was an accredited representative of the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Graves was also a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board from 1950 to the time he died. In 1987, he was awarded the William Booth Award for 37 years of service to the Salvation Army. It is the highest award given for distinguished service by an advisory board member.

Capt. Elmer Trapp with the Salvation Army said Sunday that Graves was one of the most active advisory board members, especially in his younger years.

"He was also very active in the community. He liked to be around people," Trapp said.

Trapp said when he came to the Cape Girardeau Salvation Army three years ago, former commander Lt. Col. Lee Hickam mentioned Graves. "He told me David Graves was a man I needed to get in touch with."

Graves was also active in numerous other civic organizations, including the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau, the Volunteer Action Committee, Exchange Club and Mentally Retarded Association.

He helped in originating the United Way in Cape Girardeau and served on its board of directors for three terms. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for 43 years, with 33 years of perfect attendance. He was vice president of the club for two terms and president for one term.

In 1973, Graves was appointed chairman of the United Cerebral Palsy fund drive and telethon.

Born in Belton, Mo., Dec. 3, 1904, he was the son of Homer A. Graves and Margaret Nickel Graves.

He was a graduate of Belton High School and William Jewell College.

On Feb. 22, 1935, he married Mary A. Campbell in Springfield, Ill. She preceded him in death in 1967.

Graves moved to Cape Girardeau in 1950 from Clarksville, Tenn. He was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Carol Unnerstall of Cape Girardeau and Jo Nunnally of El Cajon, Calif.; and three grandchildren.

Friends may call today from 4-8 p.m. at the Ford & Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the chapel. The Rev. John Owen will officiate. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.