AUGUSTA — Richard F. Graul, 77, passed away on Friday, Nov. 24.

Mr. Graul was born on May 8, 1940, in the borough of Manhattan, NYC, and spent his early years there. His family then moved to Toano, Va., where he spent his middle school years, and then to Long Island where he was a 1958 graduate of Hicksville High School, Hicksville, N.Y. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy for the next 20 years. While stationed in the Philippines during the Vietnam War, he met and married his wife of 49 years, Linda Villamor. He was an intelligence and surveillance air crewman of the Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) Red Lancers, based out of Jacksonville, Fla. This squadron is one of the original and oldest squadrons of the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at BNAS, Maine, in the early ’70s and enjoyed Maine so much that he moved back after retiring from the U.S.N. at NAS Pax River, Md., in 1978. He then worked the next 20-plus years as a rural mail carrier for the United States Post Office in Freeport and Sabattus.

Mr. Graul was a member of the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA-NE), the Rural Mail Carriers Association and the American Philatelic Society. Since childhood he was an avid collector of both military and philatelic memorabilia.

He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Frederick C. and Vivian L. (Brown) Graul of New York and Lisbon Falls. Of his immediate family, he leaves behind his wife, Linda, of Lisbon Falls; two adult stepdaughters, Charlina Cecena of California and Aurora Cecena-Crespo and her husband, Orlando of New York; two adult children, Sandra V. Graul-McEachernm of Lisbon Falls, and Donald R. Graul and his wife, Sandy of Sabattus; nine grandchildren, Kaylee, Jayna, Taylor, Adam, Chase, Anthony, Felicia, Holly and Michael; and two immediate great-grandchildren, Riley and Cameron.

In recent years, Mr. Graul and his family’s life was greatly impacted by Lewy Body Dementia disease.

The Graul family would like to specifically thank the team of caregivers at St. Mary’s Memory Care Clinic, Androscoggin Home Health & Hospice, and the VA Togus Springs Hospice Program for the wonderful and loving guidance and care they have provided to Mr. Graul and his family.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting Richard’s online guestbook at www.crosmanfuneralhome.com.

Richard F. Graul