Charles Andrew Graves, 79, residing in Elkhart, passed away August 12, 2021 at Elkhart General Hospital after being hospitalized for two weeks.  Charles was born July 03, 1942 to the late Adrian E. and Goldie M. (Wakeman) Graves in Logansport, Indiana and was the youngest of five children.  His sisters were Betty Graham, Barbra Benn, Carol Hipskind and Mary Nagy.

When Charles was ten years old, he and his mother, along with his sister Mary, relocated to Elkhart, Indiana.  In 1952 he began attending Elkhart Community Schools.  In 1956 he met his future wife Anna L. Shaw, who was also attending Elkhart Community Schools.  Charles and Anna dated for four years and then married July 09, 1960.  In 1961 Charles and Anna had their first child Teresa and in 1965 their son Andrew was born.

In 1969 Charles became employed at Conn-Selmer where he learned to buff and repair trumpets.  He was an accomplished buffer and repairman and buffed and repaired trumpets belonging to Doc Severinsen, the band leader from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and other famous trumpet players.  Charles eventually retired from Conn-Selmer in 2009.

Charles was a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs and watched every game he could when the games were televised on TV.  When Cubs were on their way to going to the World Series in 2016, he rooted for them to win and they did.  He also watched a lot of Notre Dame Football games but never claimed to be their number one fan. In the past he also enjoyed fishing, camping and mushroom hunting.

Charles is survived by his wife Anna, Sisters Barbra Benn and Mary Nagy, daughter Teresa (Mark) Trowbridge, son Andy (Peggy) Graves, grandchildren Matthew Kunz, Stephannie (Matthew) Row, Ashley (Zach) Balsley, and great grandchildren Destiny Row and Elliot Balsley.

Cremation arrangements are being handled through Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart, Indiana.  There will be no services at this time.  Condolences may be made online to Charlie's family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com