Vondale Graham

H. Vondale Graham, MD, loving husband, father and grandfather died September 11, 2024 in his home lovingly surrounded by his family. Born in Conway, Arkansas 82 years ago to Hurlis V. Graham and Lawanda Odell (Surratt) Graham, Vondale was the son of a career Army officer, and spent his early years frequently moving both domestically and internationally. He met his true love, Janet McCutchen, at Hendrix College and they had their first date (albeit with other people) at the Sadie Hawkins dance in the spring of 1963. Inseparable after that day, they courted through love notes, tornado alarms, kisses in the Hendrix hedges, and sharing cokes at the campus library. The couple were married in August of 1965 and then, after his completion of medical school and service as chief medical officer of a naval ship (U.S.S. Savannah) during the Vietnam War, the Grahams moved to Tulsa with their two (eventually three) daughters. Tulsa has been their adopted home for over 50 years. Vondale is survived by his wife Janet, their three daughters Dawn Graham (Chris McGill), Jennifer Moix (Martin Moix, MD), and Leah Graham, PhD (Steven Cherecwich), two granddaughters Elise Moix, MD and Candace Beavers (Daniel Beavers), and one grandson Auston Klotzbach, his sister Susan Milburn, and brother, Steve Graham (Cheryl Snook), his wonderful friends, and his beloved pet, Bernese Mountain Doodle (aka small horse), Odin Graham. Vondale practiced medicine with a specialization in internal medicine and as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians for 43 years in Tulsa both in private practice and as a hospitalist at St. Johns. He cared deeply about his patients, medical scholarship, and Tulsa's healthcare system but he was so much more than that. Vondale had a quick wit, an insatiably curious mind, an incredible sense of humor, and true compassion and love for the world around him. Vondale was an artist: stone carving, woodworking, ceramics, paint, jewelry, charcoal, photography, and other mediums. Stone has been his most prolific artistic endeavor but he could truly pull the beauty in the world he saw around him from nearly any surface; he passed these passions on to his family. He shared his love of nature, often bringing his family to the Sangre de Cristo mountains in Colorado where they spent their final trip together this past summer. He also loved cycling along the Arkansas River alone or with the family he influenced to bike as well. He and Jan enjoyed walking Odin along these trails in rain or shine. Vondale was an avid reader and scholar on a range of topics including, but not limited to, philosophy, judicial reform, divinity, history, and the natural world. He has been published in medical journals but also invested heavily in understanding systemic inequalities and human rights, even co-authoring with his youngest daughter. Vonnie and Jan have been members of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church for over 50 years where he served in every conceivable way to support its ministry and the Heritage Class. He has been a member of Rotary International, Tulsa Council on Foreign Relations, Tulsa County Medical Society, Neighbor for Neighbor, the American College of Physicians, and so many other scholarly, activist, professional, and other pursuits. Above all else, Vondale Graham truly loved his wife, his family, and his dog, Odin. His love had no bounds, even now. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to "Barton, Clinton, Gordy Lectureship" at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Home | Boston Avenue United Methodist Church (Tulsa, OK) Memorial Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 17th, at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church 1301 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa,OK. Moore's Memory Chapel 918-583-6148

Vondale Graham

June 28, 1942 - September 11, 2024