Paul Fitch Graf

Paul Fitch Graf was born in Washington, Iowa, to William and Inez (Fitch) Graf. His older sisters, Janet (Harrington) and Joyce (Forkner) were thrilled to have a little brother. They lived in a few different places in Iowa as he grew up, but then, in 1953 they moved to Clarksville, Arkansas, where he finished high school in 1955 and went to college.

In 1959, he graduated from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Hearing the call of the west, he moved half way across country to Ventura, California and began working at Point Magu. While there he was awarded a patent and enlisted in the Naval Reserve, where he served four years.

He eventually met Nyla Rae Epp, formerly of Nebraska, at the Lutheran church in Ventura, where they married, August 8, 1963. In the meantime, Paul also earned his pilot's license which he used to fly himself and he new bride to Houston, Texas, for an interview with NASA, Johnson Space Center. Never one to shy from adventure, Paul while confident in his skills as a pilot, found himself lost along the way but being the resourceful engineer he was, he tuned into the local Arizona radio station to regain his bearings. They eventually made it to Texas, safe and sound.

The return trip they flew up through the midwest to visit family on both sides before returning to the west coast. The entire trip took two weeks and luckily not any longer. His new boss had been calling for days. He got the job in Houston.

A few years after they moved to Houston, they welcomed a son, Jonathan and four years later another son, Carl.

Paul spent the next 33 years working for NASA on various projects from Apollo all the way through the Space Shuttle. He designed tools that are still sitting on the surface of the moon and near the end of his career was known as "Cable Paul" as he was responsible for ensuring cables were routed properly in the Shuttle's payload bay. Through his hard work and dedication, he received a Manned Flight Awareness award where he and Nyla were awarded a trip to Cape Canaveral to witness a shuttle launch sitting aside the astronauts' wives.

He also kept busy away from work, raising two boys through various sports, such as baseball and basketball and including teaching them to water ski behind his power boat during many camping trips.He ran a small residential real estate business and employed the whole family in upkeep and repairs.

Throughout their marriage, he and Nyla attended several Lutheran churches and supported charities such as Habitat for Humanity. Paul was even the head coordinator for the construction of a few houses south of Houston.

After retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his two grandsons, Nicholas and Tyler, watching cooking shows and trying new recipes. He and Nyla also enjoyed traveling with memorable trips to Seattle, Alaska and Germany. They also enjoyed square dancing.

In 2017, he and Nyla moved from Houston, to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be closer to Jonathan and his family.

Through life's twists and turns, he enjoyed a good joke and a little tease every once in a while. As one friend put it, "I don't have a memory of him without a smile on his face."

Paul is preceded in death by his wife, Nyla, sister Joyce (Graf) Forkner, her husband, Jim Forkner, and is survived by his son Jonathan, his wife Elizabeth, grandsons Nicholas and Tyler, son Carl, sister, Janet (Graf) and her husband Ed Harrington, nieces and nephews, Janice K Forkner, Jeanne Simpson, John Forkner, Eddie Harrington, Valerie Harrington.

An online memorial is planned for Sunday, November 22, 2026 (time TBD). Memorial donations can be made in Paul’s name to Shriner’s Hospital for Children. https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/campaign/shriners-childrens-fundraise-in-memory/c619498