Larry McGraw

WALDORF — Larry Douglas McGraw passed away on January 2, 2022. Larry was born on April

1, 1948 in Tazewell, Virginia to Joseph Benson McGraw and Bobbie Lee

(Standefer) McGraw. He was the oldest of six children. Larry was a loving

husband, father, grandfather, uncle and cousin.

Larry grew up in Capitol Heights, Maryland where he attended and graduated

from Central High School in 1968. He played football and was a star basketball

player. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served our

country for four years and was stationed at Lackland AFB in Texas, Mildenhall,

England and at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. After his discharge, he joined

the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Force and retired after 21 years of

service. Following his retirement, Larry worked as a security officer at the then

newly opened St. Charles Town Center. He also worked as a Special Police Officer

with Omnisec at Ft. Belvoir Army Base in Virginia. He finally retired in 2012. Larry

made many lifelong friends from each of the places he worked and was affectionately known by many as “Big Larry”. Larry was a selfless man who unconditionally loved his family and friends. His

granddaughters Selena and Alanna were the lights of his life and he loved to

spend time with them. He also cherished the time spent with his family in

Tennessee. He regularly made trips to visit his brothers and sisters and enjoyed

being around all of his nieces and nephews while he was there.

Larry loved sports and played on various softball leagues in his younger days. He

was a faithful Washington Football, Nationals and Capitals fan. He truly enjoyed

the times he was able to attend games in person. Larry also loved to fish and

hunt and some of his happiest times were spent fishing and hunting with his brothers, nephews and cousins.

He was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the American Legion Post 82, LaPlata, MD.

Larry met his loving wife, Ginny ( Virginia Paterno) McGraw in 1971 while both

were working in Washington, D.C. They were married in 1972 and would have

celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November 25th of this year. They

raised their three children, twins John and Yvette, and Christina in Charles

County.

In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by his daughter Yvette

Nichols (Charles). He is survived by his wife, Ginny, son John and daughter

Christina McGraw-Johnson; son-in-law Terrence L. Johnson; granddaughters

Selena Bertolo and Alanna Johnson; brothers David McGraw ( Wanda), Tim

McGraw ( Robin), Steven McGraw; sister Donna Davis (Glenn) and Tracy Foust (Clyde).

Services will be held at New Life Church, 9690 Shepherd Creek Place, LaPlata, MD

20646 on January 25, 2022. Viewing will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and

the service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Maryland Veteran’s

Cemetery, Cheltenham, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions

may be made to Spring Dell Center, 6040 Radio Station Road, LaPlata, MD 20646.

Services being handled by Johnson Funeral Service, P. A. White Plains, MD