(Served On Wauseon Volunteer Fire Department)
Lloyd E. Graf Jr., age 90, of Wauseon, Ohio arrived on the Heavenly dance floor to join the love of his life, Shirley, on the evening of Monday, March 9, 2026.
He spent his last few days peacefully at CHP Defiance Inpatient Hospice Center where he was surrounded by his three boys, family, extended family, and friends.
Lloyd was born in Wauseon in 1935. As a kid, he loved to play all sports. He also dabbled at a potential career in shining shoes for 10 to 20 cents a pop. When high school rolled around, he was a guard on Mike Sapp’s 1953 basketball team.
It was during this time that he was able to convince one of the cheerleaders, Shirley Wolf, to go out on a date with him. It didn’t take him long to realize that he had his Gal for the ages.
They soon married in 1955. Lloyd gave up his thriving career in shoe-shine to work as a service attendant at Bob’s Sinclair service station. Soon thereafter he moved onto Elm Street, where he happily resided until his final days. Through the years, Lloyd held several different jobs where he made hundreds of friends….many of whom he loved to converse with at Tuesday Cruise Nights.
He was a salesman at Lammon Furniture for many years. He managed the Wauseon Wash-n-Fill where owner Jr. Vance gave him his nickname “Oydie”….a name his boys affectionately called him for the rest of his life.
He then worked for Joe Stopher at The Wauseon Foundry, then finished his working career delivering meals and servicing cars at The Wauseon Sr. Center. Lloyd was also a member of the Wauseon Volunteer Fire Dept. He proudly served 15 years and loved to reminisce of the many calls he responded to and how great it was to serve with such brave and dedicated men.
Upon retirement, Lloyd enjoyed being a Grandpa and being Shirl’s husband. He also loved sitting on the steps of his front porch naming car models as they drove by or relaxing in his new work office….the Gazebo in his backyard.
On Saturdays, he could be found tuning in to Buckeye football, rooting for Ohio State and anybody who was playing Michigan. Lloyd was also active in the Wauseon Hope Fellowship Church, where he helped in the construction and maintenance of the church.
He was a charter member and continued to help it grow into the thriving church it is today. Oydie loved serving the Lord and will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and fellow church members.
Lloyd is survived by his three sons: Steven “Lou” Graf (Judy) of Adrian, MI; Neal Graf (Carolyn) of Chicago, IL; and Bart Graf (Christy) of Plantation, FL. His four grandsons, Wade Graf, Brett Graf, Corey Graf and Frankie Graf. He also has two great-grandchildren, Eli and Jayne Graf. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Shirley Wolf (Graf). He also had three wonderful sisters who looked out for him and preceded him in death, Alice Huber, Bette Kutzli, and Leona Lindau Stopher…all who lived into their 90s. Lloyd had numerous nieces and nephews….many of whom looked after him in his later years. To you, the Graf boys thank you so much, you were awesome!
Oydie, you will be remembered for your loyal and undying love for your family, your kindness to all of your friends and classmates, your quick wit and ability to tease the heck out of us, your eagerness to volunteer and donate, being a role model and hero for your three sons, and most of all for making your place on Elm Street and Wauseon, a better home for all who lived here.
God Bless you Dad, “Silver Fox”, “Oydie”, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, and Uncle Lloyd. Heaven is gaining an angel. Please give Mom a hug and dance your way with her through eternity.
Visitation for Lloyd will take place on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 5–7:30 p.m., at the Hope Christian Fellowship Church of Wauseon. A funeral service for Lloyd will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 10 a.m., at the church, with Pastor Maryann Reimund officiating. Burial will follow at the Wauseon Union Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Hope Christian Fellowship Church. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.grisierfh.com. The Edgar-Grisier Funeral Home of Wauseon is honored to serve the Graf family.
The obituary for Lloyd was lovingly prepared by his family.