Rancho Bernardo Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol lost its leader Wednesday, with the death of Marie Graver.

The Westwood resident died at home in her sleep or while reading, said police officer Vickie Watkins, San Diego Police Department’s RSVP coordinator.

She was a 2004 Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame inductee who was going to turn 80 on Aug. 6.

Watkins said RSVP members were shocked to learn of Graver’s passing.

“She was a great lady who loved life, loved people and loved to read,” Watkins said, adding Graver also enjoyed traveling and loved the color pink — to the point that she once suggested painting the RSVP cars pink and getting pink RSVP shirts.

She also described Graver as being “very generous” and someone who “never minced words, but tells it like it is.”

Graver volunteered more than 20,000 hours with RB RSVP over 15 years. Six years ago she became its administrator for the 50-plus Rancho Bernardo members.

In an April 2009 interview with the Rancho Bernardo News Journal, Graver said she volunteered about 135 hours per month. She said RSVP’s You Are Not Alone program was her favorite as was its December meeting, because that was when YANA participants were invited to a holiday party. Through YANA, RSVP members check on seniors who live alone.

Retired police officer Paul Lennon, who was Northeastern Division’s Community Resource Officer for years, knew Graver since 1996. He said she was “the perfect choice” to succeed the late Bob Smith as administrator due to her “outstanding interpersonal skills” and love of helping others.

Lennon said she dedicated more hours to the volunteer program than many do to paid jobs and she was willing to do any task needed, including vacuuming the office at times.

“She was a wonderful lady ... who really helped make the program what it is today,” Lennon said.

On July 11, Graver won “best in show” out of 400 entrants for her 1937 Packard in the San Diego Police Historical Association’s annual Cops and Rodders show. It was her first time to enter and the car has been in Graver’s family since her childhood.

Steve Willard, SDPHA vice president, said Graver was the association’s secretary from 2000-2003.

“She was a great lady, really nice, very dedicated,” Willard said. “Her heart was as big as any cop I ever met.”

In addition to RSVP, Graver volunteered at Bernardo Heights Middle School for several years, which led to her receiving an “outstanding volunteer” award from Poway Unified School District. In years past, she served on Rancho Bernardo Community Council’s Public Safety Committee, Neighborhood Watch/Emergency Preparedness board and Northfield Homeowners Association.

In 2004, Graver said she was “honored and humbled” to be inducted into the RB Hall of Fame.

Graver moved to Rancho Bernardo in 1992 from the Bay Area where she and her late husband, Arthur, owned and operated an injection molding business. He died 23 years ago. She is survived by their daughters, Kate Graver of Sabre Springs, Valerie Naegele of Rancho Bernardo and Susan Lizarraga of Mexico; son, Gary Graver of Oklahoma and five grandchildren.

A "Celebration for Marie" will be 2-5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4 at Westwood Club, 17394 W. Bernardo Drive in Rancho Bernardo.