By Staff
Mr. Richard Hadley Gray, 85, of Washington, formerly of the Epworth Community near Vanceboro died Friday, August 6, 2010.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 am Monday at Epworth United Methodist Church, 205 Honolulu Road, Vanceboro, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the Casey Fellowship Hall from 10 to 11 am at the church.
Mr. Gray, a native of Newport, NC, was born July 24, 1925 to Blaney P. and Sarah Waters Gray and grew up in a family with seven brothers and sisters. He attended Carteret County schools. After high school, he was drafted into military service and served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a medic assigned to Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army Corps. Mr. Gray arrived in France six weeks after the Allies invaded Normandy on D-Day and served continuously in the campaign in Northern Europe until the end of the war. He was awarded the Bronze Star and earned battle stars for his participation in four of the five Northern Europe campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge. On July 4, 1946, he married Betty Lula Joyner, who died February 22, 2010. On August 2, 1951, a son, Richard Howard Gray was born. For about six years, Mr. Gray owned and operated Gray’s Texaco in Grifton. He subsequently worked at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock for more than 30 years. At the time of his retirement, he was charged with overseeing the fuel depot for the base. After retirement, he operated the family farm near Vanceboro. About five years ago, Mr. Gray and his wife moved to Washington to be near his son. Mr. Gray was active in the Epworth Community. He served as volunteer fireman. A long-time member of the Epworth United Methodist Church, he taught Sunday School, served as Sunday School Superintendent and held several other church offices.
He is survived by his son, Richard H. and wife, Betty Mitchell Gray, of Washington; sister, Ada Lupton of Newport; brother-in-law, John F. Joyner of Washington; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Epworth United Methodist Church, 205 Honolulu Road, Vanceboro, NC 28586.
On-line condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com
Paid Obituary