William "Bill" Grafton, 70, of West Virginia Avenue, Morgantown,
passed away unexpectedly while at work at WVU on Friday, Sept. 11.
William was born in Lookout, W.Va., on Nov. 20, 1938, son of the late
Albert and Esta Nutter Grafton. He served in the U.S. Army from
1961-1963. He graduated from WVU with his Bachelor of Science in
wildlife in 1961 and his Master of Science in forestry in 1965. William
was an avid environmentalist and was considered an expert on the botany
of the Appalachian region. He taught at WVU for 43 years, during which
time he impacted the lives of many throughout the state and in the
College of Agriculture and Forestry. William made major contributions to
the state's botanical archives and helped found the WV Master
Naturalist program. He was a constant presence at National 4-H Forestry
contests, WV Forest Industries Camp and Conservation Camp. He was
co-editor of the Checklist and Atlas of the Vascular Flora of West
Virginia. He was active in the WV Native Plant Society, Wildlife
Society, Forestry Alumni, American Forestry Association and Nature
Conservancy. William was inducted into the WV Agriculture and Forestry
Hall of Fame and was an honorary member of WVFFA. In his personal life,
William was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. He was
known for a wry sense of humor, joyful disposition and steadfast
dependability in all aspects. A highly intelligent person, William
traveled on five continents during his life and was exploring the world
to the end. Known for orchid hunting, he was happiest surrounded by
nature and friends. He is survived by his wife, Emily Williams Grafton,
in a marriage of 29 years; a son, Daniel Grafton; his brothers Edwin,
James, Allen, Charles, Thomas and Donald; and a sister, Margarete. In
addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Marie
and Neola "Bet," and a brother, Michael. Cremation services provided
by Hastings Funeral Home. Friends will be received at the Erickson
Alumni Center in Morgantown, beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. In
lieu of flowers, donations for a scholarship fund may be sent to Dick
Waybright, West Virginia Forestry Association (WVFA), P.O. Box 718,
Ripley, W.Va. 25271. Send condolences online at
www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.

Donna Ford-Werntz, Herbarium Curator
Associate Clinical Professor
Biology Dept., Box 6057
Life Sci. Bldg., West Virginia Univ.
Morgantown, WV 26506
304-293-5201 X31549