William J. Graber III

January 15, 1933 - July 26, 2024

William J. Graber III passed away on July 26 at the age of 91.  Born January 15, 1933 in Temple, Texas, he was the only child of Lillie Vaughn and William J. Graber, Jr.  The family moved to Beaumont when Bill was a small boy, and he remained a proud Beaumont resident for the rest of his life.  He was a graduate of Beaumont High School, The University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and the Silver Spurs, and Tulane Medical School.  He trained at New Orleans Charity Hospital for his residency in Urology and considered it a privilege to have provided medical care to the citizens of southeast Texas for the next 30 years.

Bill loved Beaumont, its people, its climate, and its proximity to the Texas coast.  “Paradise,” as he would say, “sure it’s hot, but at least it’s humid!”  After completing his medical training, he happily returned to Beaumont with his wife Laura Lee Planche, who sadly predeceased him in 2017.  There they raised their three children Vallette, Will, and Travis.

Bill was a man of many interests and hobbies.  He ran track at Beaumont High and UT and later became an accomplished tennis player.  Always an avid hunter, he was as eager to make a pre-dawn trek to the duck blind as he was to track leopard in Kenya.  He earned his pilot’s license and flew himself to Rosebud, Texas, to perform surgeries once a month.  He planned and led family camping trips to Village Creek, Big Bend, Colorado, Utah, the Yukon, New Guinea, and the headwaters of the Amazon in Peru.  He collected Navajo wearing blankets, pottery, and other Native American artifacts.  He studied classical guitar and played in a physicians’ band.  He had a great affinity for Hispanic culture and studied Spanish for many years with his teacher Marilynne Wall.  He proudly practiced his Spanish on his many trips to San Miguel de Allende.  After retiring from medicine, he single-handedly built a boat in his garage which launched a decade of cruising the Caribbean and Florida coast.  He tended a number of beehives and was happy to share their bounty with friends and family at Christmas.  Each of these pursuits was executed with an intense level of passion, dedication, and expertise.

Of all his interests, none was as important and integral to Bill’s life as birdwatching.  Beginning with his days as a Boy Scout, Bill was a lifelong birder.  He kept annual checklists of the birds he had seen and was a regular follower of the rare bird hotline.  A particularly satisfying achievement was when he reached 600 on his North American Life List.  He spent countless days birding in southeast Texas, High Island and Smith Woods being particular favorite spots.  Many of his travels revolved around the quest to see new birds for his Life List.  Bill loved to share his enthusiasm for birding with friends, and was always an eager guide for new birders.

In 1962, when Bill first moved back to Beaumont after medical school, he gathered a handful of fellow birders to conduct the first Bolivar Peninsula Christmas Bird Count.  He chose the 15-mile diameter of the count area, recruited and deployed the birders, and tallied the results for the National Audubon Society.  The first count was a success with 97 species counted.  Bill continued as the count’s organizer and compiler for the next 50 years, finally handing over the reins to a younger, tech savvy team in 2012.  By that time, the species count would typically exceed 170, thanks to the robust cohort of experienced birders Bill recruited.

As he goes to his reward, Bill can look forward to reuniting with Laura Lee to continue their partnership forever and to watch their children and grandchildren lead their lives.  Bill will be happy to see some birds as well – new and old – including the Dodo, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and Bachman’s Warbler (Bachman’s will be a repeat, as Bill had one of the last sightings of this now-extinct bird).  He will also be happy to see his beloved and devoted fox terrier Trixie, whom he considered the second-smartest member of the family.

Survivors include his three children and seven grandchildren: Vallette and Russell Windham of Houston and their children, August and Isabel; Will and Shannon Graber of The Woodlands and their children, Madelaine and husband David Altman, William V, Abigail, and Andrew; and Travis Graber and Iris Steinebrunner of Dresden, Germany and their daughter, Alena. He is also survived by his only cousin, Emily Fuchs of Hunt, Texas.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Laura Lee.

A gathering of Dr. Graber’s family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 9, 2024, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.   His graveside service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Prairie Lea Cemetery, 1004 Prairie Lea Street, Brenham.

 

Download Program

Gathering of Family and Friends

Broussard’s Mortuary McFaddin Ave.
  • 2000, Mcfaddin Avenue, Beaumont, Texas, 77701,
  • August 9, 2024
  • 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Graveside Service

Prairie Lea Cemetery
  • 1004, Prairie Lea Street, Brenham, Texas, 77833,
  • August 10, 2024
  • 11:00 am

Comments (10)

    Linda Ray says:

    I did mot know Dr. Graber had passed away. He was very kind and welcoming to me when I came to Beaumont as a physician and a super great doctor. He was patient with me when I rescued a cedar waxwing years ago telling me what they ate. I was able to get his clavicle healed and took to the High Island birding area to release successfully. I have thought of him often.

    Rebecca Woodland says:

    So sorry for your loss. Dr. Graber will be sorely missed. I remember that he always had a smile when greeting everyone at First Methodist Church. A few years ago, when I started hosting birding tour groups as part of my job with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, I appreciated his help and advice; since he was a “master birder.” He was so gracious and encouraging to this novice bird-watcher! I’m truly grateful having known Dr. Graber.
    With much sympathy,
    Rebecca Woodland

    Rebecca Woodland says:

    Dear Vallette, Bill and Travis,
    I was saddened to learn that Dr. Graber passes away. He contributed so much to the church, to the medical profession and to the community. I attended your mother’s funeral and I have not forgotten that you were all very good students in my music classes at All Saints School. I send you my heartfelt sympathy and shall keep you in my prayers.
    Sincerely,
    Mary Woodland

    Ruby Nelson says:

    I looked up one Sunday and saw Dr. Graber being escorted to his seat by a homeless man. It seems that Dr. Graber was special to everyone.

    Ida McFaddin pyle says:

    Will miss my classmate and friend

    Rebecca Rankin says:

    I’ve already missed Dr Graber attending worship at FUMC Beaumont.

    Dr Graber’s life was one well lived! Both he and his Laura leave us with such a sense of loss.

    Godspeed Dr Graber, thank you for your positive influence in so many lives.

    May there be many stars in your crown!

    Jeffrey and Jeanie says:

    I met “Bill”, as he introduced himself, while he was visiting San Miguel de Allende. My wife and I were living in San Miguel at the time. We met him by means of a telephone conversation during the pandemic, August 2021. We were making phone calls to check on our neighbors as part of our volunteer work. As we shared a positive thought from the Bible Bill revealed that he read the Bible every day. Subsequently, we had many enjoyable phone discussions with him, in San Miguel and after he returned to Beaumont. Unfortunately we never got to meet him in person, but we truly came to care deeply for him. He was always pleasant, positive and engaging. We feel a great loss for your family and are grateful for our acquaintance with such a special man.

    John Alden wright says:

    I will always remember Doc cutting onions at Kairos Kitchen. We always had so much fun. A life well lived.

    Sandra Hathaway says:

    Such sweet memories of glorious birding trips.
    You and Laura Lee were the true leaders of my birding experiences.
    Lots of laughter and lots of love we all had for one another.

    See you on the other side

    Sherry Kilgore says:

    Sweet Dr. Graber,,,how I used to love visiting with you and your honey was so delicious. I know Laura welcomed you with open arms. God rest your precious soul..

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