Royal Sandford Graves III, 92, of Westport died peacefully at home September 19. He was born in Orono, Maine, in May of 1923, to Eva May Thomson and Royal S. Graves II . He grew up in Lisbon Falls, Maine, and spent many summers with his cousin Russell Houghton at their grandparents’ home, “The Royal Rest,” on Orr’s Island, Maine.

Two sons, Allan Morse Graves, and his wife Patty Mraz Graves, of Newtown, and Royal S. Graves IV, and his wife JianQun Fu, of Wethersfield; two grandchildren Meghan Eve Graves of Newtown, and Evan Watkins Graves, and his wife Megan Magee Turner, of Philadelphia; his half-brother, Robert Ralston Graves, and his wife Nancy Patricia Folan Graves, of Seffner, Fla., survive Mr Graves.

In May 1944, he married Alice Deering Morse at the Yale Chapel in New Haven. They moved around the country during his assignments and training in the Army Weather Corps. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before her passing, in 2009.

Mr Graves graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maine, and completed his master’s in education at Harvard University. His career as an elementary school principal took him to Jenkins and Hatherly Schools in Scituate, Mass., Loker School in Wayland, Mass., Hindley School in Darien, and Beecher Road School in Woodbridge.

In 1966 the family moved to Westport. Mr and Mrs Graves became active members of the Unitarian Church; He was active in religious education, Unitarian Universalist /United Nations Office, and budget committees.

Mr Graves was a devoted husband and father, supporting and guiding Alice, Royal IV, and Allan in many endeavors. He enjoyed genealogy, golfing, stamp collecting, and camping at various periods of his life, and always was an avid reader.

The family encourages all friends to gather with them Saturday, October 3, at 12:30 pm, at the Westport Unitarian Church, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport, to celebrate his life through music, words, and stories. Reception to follow, with light refreshments.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a worthy cause.