Durvard Grave

Little Rock, IA

     Durvard (Bud) George Grave age 83 of Spencer, Indiana formerly of Little Rock, Iowa died Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Owen Valley Health Campus in Spencer, Indiana.

     A memorial service will take place Monday, May 16, 2022, at 1030 at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, Iowa with Reverend Barry Wynveen, officiating.  Burial will follow in Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock.

     Visitation will take place Sunday, May 15^th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with the family present at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock.

     Durvard Grave was born December 11, 1938, the son of George and Amelia (Symens) Grave in Ashton, Iowa.  He grew up near Rock Rapids and Little Rock.  He graduated from Little Rock High School in 1957.

     On October 5, 1959, Durvard was united in marriage to Carol Sprock at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, Iowa.  They were blessed with four children, Delrae, Eugene, Douglas, and Craig.  They farmed for 5 years before moving to Inglewood, California where Durvard earned his Aircraft Powerplant and Airframe Technologist Degree from Northrop University.  He became a Commercial Pilot and a specialist in aviation maintenance. Aviation was his lifelong passion. He worked for Flying Tigers for many years in California, then moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa and ran Bud’s Flying Service which provided air charter, maintenance, and flight training. He taught many people to fly.  He and Carol made 12 moves in the 62 years of their marriage including Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, Iowa, Indiana, and California.  His knowledge of aviation maintenance was unsurpassed. When Flying Tigers was purchased by FedEx, they recruited Durvard to become Maintenance Operation Control Center Manager in Memphis, TN.  Durvard retired in 2002.  Durvard was best known as "Bud" to his family and close friends. He enjoyed flying, hunting, and fishing.

  Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years, Carol; children, Eugene Grave of Spencer, IN, Doug Grave of Glenwood, IA, and Craig Grave of Tucson, AZ, seven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; sister, Jo Ann Ullery-Bobier; along with extended family and friends.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, George, and Amelia; daughter, Delrae Bennett; sister, Rose Zella Witzel; and grandchild Mathew (Matt) Grave

                                                                    Blessed Be His Memory.

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