Mark Gralia, age 98, a long-time resident of Vashon Island Washington, died peacefully

in his sleep on September 18, 2010, at Exeter House Retirement Home in Seattle.

Gralia was born on July 15, 1912 in Novinger, Missouri to Stephen T. Gralia and Livia M. Vacca Gralia. The family soon moved to Bicknell Indiana, where Gralia was graduated from high school in 1929. This was the Great Depression years and Gralia earned money for college by dancing and playing his saxophone in vaudeville troupes. This Involvement in the performing arts was to remain a passion throughout his life.

After earning a Business Degree from Ball State University in Indiana, he worked in Baltimore Maryland, with the new Social Security Administration, where he helped develop the now famous Benefit Program. There he met his wife, Doreen French Ross. Gralia continued his Civil Service career, after moving to Seattle in 1937, working with the Civil Aeronautics Administration (now FAA) at Boeing Field. His work was interrupted by World War II when he enlisted in the Army, serving 46 months with the Signal Corps in Alaska.

In 1937, he had purchased a cabin on 15 acres at Glen Acres on Vashon Island, where his family enjoyed summers until 1958, when they moved there full time. Gralia, his wife Doreen and son Ross enjoyed the typical Island life, raising sheep and chickens and 2 pet burros. His son Ross was graduated from Vashon Island High School in 1961.

During the 1950,s and 1960’s, Gralia continued in Civil Service with the Bremerton

Naval Shipyard, heading up the Data Processing Department and installing the first computer systems in several Naval Shipyards.

Retiring in 1969, Gralia and his wife Doreen Ross Gralia, enjoyed traveling throughout the world for several years. After his wife’s death in 1975, he continued to travel, frequently as a tour guide and escort where he was popular for his graciousness and knowledge of many subjects.

Mr. Gralia was a patron of the Arts for decades. He held season’s tickets to the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, Intiman, ACT, Seattle Repertory theatres and many other performing groups. He was an artist himself, composing a number of musical pieces for the pipe organ and piano and writing poetry.

Since moving to the Seattle area over 70 years ago, Gralia was an active member of the Episcopal Church community. At Trinity Parish Episcopal Church, 8th and James in downtown Seattle, he served on the Vestry as Junior and Senior Warden and on many committees, both at Trinity and with the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. He received the Bishops Cross from The Rt. Rev. Robert Cochrane, Diocese of Olympia. Gralia was an expert on the history of Trinity Parish Church and wrote and illustrated booklets, to educate the public, about Trinity’s windows and history.

He also maintained an active involvement with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit on Vashon Island. He opened his home and acreage on Vashon many times for church related camping and meetings. He also assisted with the Bishop’s Guild for Blind Youth and with the Japan Exchange Program for many years.

At age 93, in 2005, Mr. Gralia moved off Vashon Island to his own apartment at Exeter House in downtown Seattle enjoying attending concerts and plays for a number of years.

Mr. Gralia is survived by his son, Ross Stephen and daughter-in-law Maiya Louise Gralia, who reside in Nevada City, California. Gralia is also survived by his brother Mars Gralia of Carmel, Indiana, and many nieces and nephews throughout the country.

A small memorial service is planned on October 7, 2010, at Exeter House, 720 Seneca Street, Seattle, officiated by Father Paul Collins of Trinity Parish Church. The short service will be at 2PM in the main dining room, followed by light refreshments. There will be a short, live performance of one of Gralia’s compositions.

Donations or remembrances may be made to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Vashon, Washington, Trinity Episcopal Church Seattle, the Seattle Opera or Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Paid Obituary