Bruce M. Graham, Jr. Major, USAF, (Retired), age, 72, of McCaysville, GA passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2009 in the Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Major Graham was the son of the late Bruce M. and Sylvia Graham, Sr. of Copperhill, TN. Major Graham is a 1955 graduate of Copperhill, TN High School. He received a BS and a MA degree from Central Michigan University, and he was a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Army Special Warfare School, Ft. Bragg, NC prior to his retirement from the USAF. He served three tours in Southeast Asia. One tour was with MACV/SOG as Plans and Operations Officer, and a tour Air Operations Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency in the Middle East. His decorations include The Bronze Star, 5 Air Medals, 3 Air Force Commendations Medals, 4 Combat Readiness Medals, Presidential Unit Citation, USAF Outstanding Unit Medal with Combat V, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 5 Campaign Stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star. He wore the wings of a Master Navigator and a Senior Parachutist, and the Parachute wings of the Republic of Vietnam. In his post military career he served as City Manager of Portland, Michigan and was appointed to the Governors Council for Small Cities, The City of Winchester, Kentucky and was a consultant to the University of Kentucky School of Public Administration for small cities. He was a Vice President of an architectural firm in Lexington, Kentucky and later joined Martin Marietta Aerospace as a Procurement Manager prior to retiring to McCaysville. He was a member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, Society of Military Engineers, and The International City Managers Association. He served on the Curriculum Committee for the School of Industrial Engineering at the University of Central Florida. He had authored four books based on his experiences in Vietnam. Survivors include his wife, Jean Graham of the home; one son, Bruce M. Graham III and wife Julie of Gainesville, FL; one daughter, Marsha Sheperd and husband David of Camas, WA; two grandchildren, Graham Sheperd and Leah Sheperd; brother, Robert M. and wife Cindy Graham of Blue Ridge, GA; step-brother, Claude and wife Carol of Knoxville, TN; sister, Patricia and Husband Bobby Martin of Epworth, GA; step sister, Kathy Bliss of NY. Graveside services will be conducted Friday May 22, at 2:30 p.m. from the Copper Ridge Memorial Gardens with Rev. Gary Barber officiating. Full Military Honors will be provided by the Robbins Air Force Base Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday prior to the service 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the Mayo Clinic at 4500 San Pablo Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32224. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge is in charge of the arrangements.