James A. McGraw

James A. McGraw was born March 25, 1945, in Buchanan County, VA, and passed peacefully on April 19, 2026, at Augusta Medical Center in Fisherville, VA, with his family by his side.

Jim was the beloved husband of fifteen years to Marion (née Urkoff) and devoted father of Christine Fronek (David), John (Jisun), and Michael. He was a proud PopPop to Zachary Cesare and David and Christian Fronek.

He shared a special and loving bond with his mother-in-law, Ethel Urkoff, and Marion’s children: Christine Fauber (Chuck) and her daughters Melody Smith (Dylan), Mariah, Gabby, and Abigail Golomb; and Scott Horner (Stacie) and their son Cody.

He is also survived by his brother and best friend, Mack McGraw (Maryanne) and sister-in -law Georgie McGraw as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jefferson and Alice (née Blankenship), and his siblings Wanda, Mary, Mildred, Della, Spicy, Jimmy, and Eli.

Jim and Marion shared a life of love and laughter in Forked River, NJ, and most recently Staunton, VA, with their three furry companions - Spicy, Maggie, and Saylor.

A 1963 graduate of Hurley High School in Hurley, Virginia, Jim was a standout basketball player who earned a full athletic scholarship. He chose instead to serve his country, enlisting in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge, he worked for General Motors in Delaware before reenlisting in 1978.

During his naval career, he and his family were stationed in Virginia, Illinois (twice), California, and Pennsylvania. His sea duty took him to nearly every continent, except Australia. While en route there in 1980, his ship was redirected to the Indian Ocean in support of Operation Eagle Claw, the mission to rescue the American hostages in Iran.

A skilled electrician and gas turbine engineer, Jim later served as an instructor at Great Lakes Naval Base. He retired in 1992 in Philadelphia after over two decades of honorable service and went on to be active in the National Guard for ten years and operate cogeneration plants in New Jersey and New York.

Jim will be remembered for his unwavering loyalty, genuine kindness, and unmatched work ethic. He was also a baby whisperer who loved horse races, fishing, gardening, fixing cars with his sons and grandsons, hamboning, hunting ginseng, and making cornbread and pinto beans that would “make your tongue slap your brains out”!

He faced life’s challenges without complaint, carried himself with quiet strength, and embraced life’s joys with a full and grateful heart.

The family will receive friends on from 1:00 to 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Henry Funeral Home in Staunton with full military honors to follow.

A special thank you to Dr. Michael Longo and Nurse Jackie B at Augusta Health for their compassion and excellent care in Jim’s final days.