Tom Graff

Tom Graff Obituary Frank Thomas “Tom” Graff, Jr., of Charleston, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born February 15, 1939, in Mount Hope, West Virginia, to the late Frank Thomas Graff and Jannes Snyder Graff, Tom attended Mount Hope High School, where he was voted most likely to succeed, best dressed, and biggest apple polisher. Tom was a graduate of West Virginia University (1961) and the West Virginia University College of Law (1964), where he was a member of West Virginia Law Review. He was also a member of Phi Kappa Psi, and many believed he went on to law school partly to continue enjoying life in Morgantown with his Phi Psi brothers, especially Eugene Hague and George Vieweg. He was known to frequent Gene’s and the Owl’s Club on any given day, all while successfully completing law school. A 1959 newspaper photograph of Tom and his partners in crime can still be found on the wall at Gene’s to this day.A practicing attorney since 1964, Tom’s first position out of law school was clerking for Judge John A. Field, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Tom often told the story of Judge Field asking what he planned to do after his clerkship. When Tom said he had received several offers but had not yet decided, Judge Field arranged a meeting with Guy Stone, which led to Tom’s lifelong love affair with his craft and with his firm. Tom joined Stone, Bowles, Kauffelt & McDavid in 1965 as the sixth attorney in the firm. He began his law practice in real estate law and coal, oil, and gas law, which later evolved into a commercial, banking, and natural resources practice. His sociable personality, humor, and ability to bring people together led to genuine relationships that attracted and retained clients, many of whom became lifelong friends. Tom served as Managing Partner of Bowles Rice (formerly Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love) from 1986 to 2007. Under his leadership, the firm grew from 30 attorneys in one Charleston office to an organization of more than 120 attorneys with a regional footprint spanning West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia.A member of the West Virginia State Bar and a West Virginia State Bar Fellow, Tom was a strategic thinker with a keen business mind and was often asked to assist clients, members of the Charleston community, and the State of West Virginia on various projects. He remained an active member of the business community, serving as a director of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia Roundtable, and Chemical Alliance Zone. In addition, Tom served as a director of United Bankshares, Inc., Port Amherst, Inc. and Amherst Madison, Inc., Mt. Hope Bankshares, Inc. and Bank of Mt. Hope, Fahlgren, Inc., Bank of Dunbar, McDonough Caperton Insurance Group, Inc., Accordia of West Virginia, and West Virginia Media. He served as Secretary of McJunkin Corporation for twenty years. Ever the entrepreneur, Tom and his close friend and partner, Tom Lane, launched Graff-Lane Properties, LLC, a West Virginia real estate development company. He was also manager and member of HFS, LLC and Two Hands Ventures, LLC, companies primarily engaged in owning, leasing, and selling oil and gas properties in West Virginia. He also served as custodian for numerous trust funds for many years.In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Tom made countless lifelong friendships along the way. He was a steadfast friend to many and a best friend to a lucky few. He never met a stranger and had a rare gift for making people feel known, welcomed, and valued. His children recall that a simple walk of two blocks downtown to grab lunch could take more than thirty minutes because Tom seemed to know everyone, and everyone knew Tom. He could talk to anyone, no matter their background or station in life, and he did so with genuine warmth, humor, and curiosity.Though deeply devoted to his work, Tom’s greatest priority was always the people he loved. He adored his family, treasured his friends, and would do anything for either one. He was generous with his time, quick with advice, always ready to lend a hand, and never missed a game, birthday, graduation, or celebration. He loved a challenging project, good food, travel, and being surrounded by family and friends. He also enjoyed a glass of wine - or two - and brought energy, laughter, and joy wherever he went. Tom was often the life of the party, but more than that, he made those around him feel cared for, included, and important.Tom especially loved his WVU Mountaineers, and “Country Roads” was his life’s anthem. He will be remembered not only for all he accomplished, but for the love he gave his family, the loyalty he showed his friends, and the warmth, humor, and heart he brought to every room. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always.Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Jake Gwinn and Margaret (“Peggy”) and Bill Samples.He is survived by his children, Leesa (Ray) Prendergast of Morgantown, West Virginia, F.T. III (Debbie) of Ghent, West Virginia, Ned (Mitzi) of Germantown, Maryland, Stefan (Carol) of Charleston, South Carolina, and John Morgan of Charleston, West Virginia. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, Hannah Graff Bragg (Bill), Tom Graff IV (Bonnie), Red Prendergast (Lexsey), Bain Graff, Auggie Graff, Julia Graff-Ranieri (Adam), Campbell Graff, Larney Prendergast Dafoe (Que), Mac Graff, and Major Graff; and five great-grandchildren, including Frank Thomas Graff, V. Also surviving are his children’s mothers, Sandra Gump Graff and Becki Fahlgren Graff. Tom also leaves behind his dear friends Gaston Caperton, John Poffenbarger, John Carrico, and Judy Margolin, whose friendships meant the world to him.A private family burial will be held Saturday, March 28 at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill, West Virginia.Family and friends are invited to Tom’s Celebration of Life on April 18, 2026.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, West Virginia.To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frank, please visit our floral store.