Lyndell S. Graven

Lyndell S. Graven went to his heavenly home on Saturday night, April 12th surrounded by love at the Hospice House. He fought a long battle with Parkinson's and Dementia. Lyndell was born on November 21, 1949, to Lawrence Garland Graven and Velma Starr Graven in Glasgow, KY. While Lyndell was a toddler they moved to Washington Court House, Ohio. During Lyndell's early teenage years, they moved back to Bowling Green, KY. Lyndell was a kind person and was always ready to help others.

 While living in Washington Court House, Ohio, Lyndell gave his heart to Jesus and was baptized at the age of 13 years old. When they moved to Bowling Green, Lyndell became a member at Jackson Grove Baptist Church. He was an active member for 62 years until his health problems prevented him from attending. He served as a Trustee for several years at the Clear Creek Bible College. Lyndell loved Southern Gospel Music and helped to promote it throughout the area. He served in various positions for the Kentucky State Gospel Singing Convention until his health prevented him. He was inducted in the Kentucky State Gospel Singing Convention Hall of Fame in 2021.

 Lyndell graduated from Bristow School. He received his bachelor's and master's degree from Western Kentucky University with a double major in Accounting and Education.

 Lyndell and Debbie met each other in 1973 and married on February 26, 1976. Lyndell taught high school in Hopkinsville and in Elizabethtown. He moved back to Bowling Green and started working as an accountant for the Water Sewer Division at Bowling Green Municipal Utility. Lyndell retired in 2001 from BGMU as senior accountant. After retiring, he began substitute teaching at Warren East High School until he started teaching the GED program at the Warren County Regional Jail for Warren County Adult Education until January 2019. He also operated Graven Tax Service for over twenty years. 

Lyndell was very active in civic and professional organizations through the years. He was a member of the American Water Works Association and KY-TN Water Works Accountant Association. He became a member of the Bowling Green Lions Club in 1978. He served in various positions in the club. He became District Governor for Lions Club International in 2003. While he was District Governor, he helped to start the Vette City Lions Club and the Warren East LEO Club. He was a very active member of the Vette City Lions Club until his health prevented him from attending. He served for several years as State Secretary/Treasurer for the Kentucky Lions MD 43. He received many awards and recognitions for his works with the Lions Clubs. He attended many Lions International Conventions and even attended Lions Day at the United Nations in New York City. 

He was a very active member of the Warren East Optimist Club- serving in various positions in the club and the Kentucky/West Virginia International Optimist Organization. He and Debbie were given the opportunity to work on the Optimist International Float for the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA

 Lyndell and Debbie loved to travel. They traveled 49 states and had planned to go to Alaska when the pandemic hit. They traveled to Japan, South Korea, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and their favorite trip to Israel. They planned to go to Greece and China when the pandemic hit.

 Lyndell is survived by his loving wife and soul mate, Deborah Johnson Graven. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Donna Johnson Roberts and brother-in-law, Gary Roberts, two aunts, Sammye Graven, Ettie Lee Graven and many cousins and cousins-in-law. Special thank you to Marcia Copass who came most weeks to visit Lyndell at the Massey Springs Haven and for bringing him homemade desserts which he was always ready to eat, to his wonderful caregiver Tammy Kessler who was so good to him and to the sweet workers at the Haven at Massey Springs Senior Living, Hospice of Southern Kentucky, the Hospice House and the Cornerstone Caregiving.

There will be a Celebration of his life at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hardy & Son Funeral Home, Bowling Green Chapel. Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Wednesday and 9-11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The burial will be at Fairview Cemetery.