William D. Gray

December 19, 1921 - October 23, 2011

New Castle resident William D. Gray, 89, formerly of 202 E. Garfield Ave, New Castle, died the night of October 23, 2011 in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown. His death followed a brief illness.

He was born in Centerville, Washington County, PA on Dec. 19, 1921 to Walter F. and Pearle Deaves Gray.

He married the former Lucille McNay and she preceded him in death on September 28, 1992. He later married the former Ruby Ballengee on July 10, 1994. She survives.

Mr. Gray graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1943. He served as a navigator on B-17s with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater earning an air medal, three battle stars, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, and the Distinguished Unit Badge.He taught high school mathematics for six years in Waynesburg, PA, then, worked for the Pennsylvania American Water Co. in New Castle for 34 years. He was a member of the the Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church where he was a longstanding member of the choir. He was an enthusiastic member of the Irvine Bible Class and the Clen-Moore Prime Timers. He belonged to the New Castle Lions Club for 58 years, where he received the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship award in 2006 for raising over $200,000 in grant monies for Lions Inc. and the Lawrence County Branch of the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind. He was also a member of the Lions Club, Inc. of Lawrence County, serving as treasurer for over 45 years.

In addition to his second wife, he is survived by two daughters, Janet L. Bruening of Raleigh, NC and Suzanne E. Mesol of Columbia, MD; two sons, Robert F. Gray of Winter Springs, FL and Kenneth R. Gray of Knoxville, TN; five grandchildren; two step-sons, Jack M. Ballengee of New Castle and J. Rodney Ballengee of Wellsville, NY; five step grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and one step great-great-grandchild.In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Charles W. Gray; and a brother, Walter B. Gray.

Receiving of friends will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at the R. Cunningham Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 2429 Wilmington Road.

A memorial service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Chris Weichman will officiate. Burial will be in Taylor Methodist Church cemetery in Centerville, Washington County, PA. following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind, Lawrence County Branch, 428 Eleanor Dr, New Castle, PA 16105 or Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church, 220 Clen-Moore Blvd, New Castle, PA 16105.

Source: findagrave.com