Name Residence Graham J. Avera, Pensacola,FL Date of Death: 11/30/2006 Notice Avera, Graham Joseph LTC (Ret.) Graham Joseph Avera May 7, 1934- November 30, 2006 PENSACOLA, FLù LTC (Ret.) Graham Joseph Avera died on November 30, 2006, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola Florida, due to complications during heart surgery. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 4, 2006, with Reverend Matt Avera officiating, according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Macon Road. Burial with military honors will follow in Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell, AL. The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 6:00 PM today at the funeral home. LTC Avera was born May 7, 1934, to Margaret and Burt Avera in Ithaca, New York. During the Fall of 1952, LTC Avera entered the Citadel; he graduated and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry on June 2, 1956. He served during the Viet Nam War leading several successful strategic missions. While serving in Viet Nam, he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. After a long and distinguished career of 22 years in the U. S. Army, LTC Avera retired from the Army on December 31, 1977. In September, 1978, LTC Avera became a Physical Education teacher and coach at Fort Junior High School in Columbus, Georgia. In 1986 he became Assistant Principal there, and in 1990 he became Acting Principal. During the school years of 1991 and 1992, he was the Assistant Principal at Spencer High School. LTC Avera left public education the Summer of 1992. LTC Avera volunteered for 10 years, 1995-2005, with The Boeing Championship at Sandestin, Florida. LTC Avera became a member of the Sons of the American Revolution in June 2004 as a direct descendent of Col. Joel Lane, a Revolutionary Patriot. LTC Avera was also very active in the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 566. He is preceded in death by his father, LTC B. Lewis Avera, and mother, Margaret Dozier Avera. LTC Avera is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judith Avera; his brother, B. Lewis Avera of San Clemente, California; he has three sons: Graham Joseph Avera II, who is a Police Officer in Columbus, GA, and his wife Cindy, Mathew Dozier Avera, who is an Associate Minister at Wynnton Methodist Church in Columbus, and his wife Stacy, and Vance Livingston Avera, who is a Civil Servant in Northern Virginia, and his wife Julie; one daughter, Kathryn Avera Caceres, who is a stay-at-home mom in Newport, Rhode Island, and her husband LCDR Marcello Caceres; and nine grandchildren, Alaina Margaret Avera, Aaron Mathew Avera, Ashlyn Melanie Avera, Ansley Michael Avera, Graham Joseph Avera III, Jordan Lawrence Avera, Claudia Judith Caceres, Marshall Phillip Caceres, Mary Elizabeth Avera, and Katherine Livingston Avera. He cherished his wife, children and grandchildren, and will forever be remembered. Flowers are welcome, and the family requests that any memorial contributions be made to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 566 in Pensacola, FL, c/o Mr. William Everett, 5727 Buckward Road, Baker, FL 32531, or please call (850) 537-8553.
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