Virginia "Ginny" J Graf

Virginia J. "Ginny" Graf, age 87 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.   

She was born on March 9, 1938 to Charles and Louise (Martin) Cleary. At 3 months of age she was placed with John and Emma (Williams) McNamara and was fortunate to be raised as a foster child with them. Ginny was a 1956 graduate from Bryan High School. On October 24, 1959 she married Richard Lee Graf.

She worked at Spangler Candy Company and ARO Equipment Corp. Richard and Ginny had four children, Tony, Mark, Cathy and Susan. After many years, she met her five siblings; Chuck, Grace, Mike, Mary Ellen, and Pat Cleary.

She is survived by her four children, Tony Graf of Brandon, FL, Mark Graf of Oakwood, Cathy (Ron Clemens Jr.) Graf of Hicksville, and Susan (Steve Young) Graf of Centerville, six grandchildren; Zane (Casey Cornelius) Sprow of Paulding, Mark (Beth) Graf II of Oakwood, Jade (Derick) Gunter of Liberty Center, Jacob Graf of Defiance, Logan Graf and Alex Graf of Arizona, four great-grandchildren; Rylee, Lane, Libby and Damen, and her brother, Patrick Cleary of Illinois. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Graf, her birth parents and foster parents, brother Jack McNamara, four biological siblings, grandson Zeke Sprow, and daughter-in-law Deb Graf.

There will be no services. Schaffer Funeral Home was honored to assist the family with arrangements.

Ginny will be cremated and inurned at Sherman Cemetery. 

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