Charles Martin Graefe Sr.

Charles M. "Marty" Graefe, of Churchville, Md. died Dec. 24 at Bel Air Health and Rehabilitation nine days after he broke his arm in a fall at his residence. He was 92.

A World War II veteran and retired carpenter, Mr. Graefe was a long time resident of the Madonna, Md. area, where he and his wife, the late Elizabeth Elaine Graefe (nee Harvey), raised a family of five children. He was a founder of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jarrettsville, Md.

Born in 1920, one of J. Henry Graefe and Anna Elizabeth Schwiekert Graefe's nine children, he grew up on his family's farm in Monkton, where he attended a one-room school. In his early teen years, he landed a job breaking and training horses in the verdant hunt country that straddles the Harford-Baltimore County line. Prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army, Mr. Graefe was employed by the Glenn L. Martin Co. in Middle River, Md. where he helped to build bombers. Although he worked on scores of planes, he never once traveled by air. As the war was winding down, Mr. Graefe crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a troop carrier. He was stationed in Germany. Unlike most of his brothers in arms there, he lived in German households, while he served as an interpreter.

Mr. Graefe was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America (Jarrettsville Post 8672.)

Upon his return to civilian life, Mr. Graefe became a self-taught carpenter. In the 1950s, he practically singlehandedly built his family's three-bedroom, red brick home on Madonna Rd. He was a foreman at Caddie Homes in Hickory, Md. where he refined his carpentry skills. Baltimore Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson hired him to build a trophy case to display the future hall of famer's growing collection of awards and mementoes.

Mr. Graefe's services as a dowser were sought throughout the region by both builders and homeowners. Wielding a three-foot-long forked branch held waist-high, he methodically traversed land until he located an underground water source sufficient to feed a well. Doing so caused the branch that he gripped with both hands to bend downward and frequently crack. He believed his ability to successfully "water witch" had to do with his negative blood type. A quiet, reserved and humble man, Mr. Graefe's principle hobbies were gardening, building bird houses, carving and playing guitar.

Several years after his wife's death in 1997, Mr. Graefe was welcomed into the home of his oldest child, daughter Sandra E. Lloyd and her husband, Allen M. "Mac" Lloyd, of Churchville, Md. He resided there until his death. Other surviving children are daughter Robin Elizabeth Willis and her husband, Gary, of St. Inigoes, Md. and sons William M. Graefe and his wife, Corinne, of Floyd, Va.; Steven H. Graefe and his wife, Edith, of Street, Md., and Charles M. Graefe Jr. and his wife, Jean, of Olney, Md. Mr. Graefe's surviving siblings include sisters Mary Graefe, of Baltimore, Md. and Margie Graefe, of Cleveland, Oh., and a brother, Harry Graefe, of Fallston, Md. Mr. Graefe was predeceased by sisters Elizabeth Calhoun, of White Hall, Md.; Florence Jackson and Doris Crandell, both of Baltimore, Md., and brothers Fred Graefe, of Monkton, Md. and Henry Graefe, of Baltimore, Md. In addition, Mr. Graefe is survived by 16 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Jonathan Graefe, Bradley Graefe, Benjamin Lloyd, Tyler Lloyd, Andrew Willis, Brock Willis, Corey Willis and Derek Willis.

For those who so choose, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3825 Norrisville Rd., Jarrettsville, Md. 21084.