LEESBURG – Melvin L. “Ledru” Gray, 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep Sept. 19, 2015, at his home on the ancestral Mock farm near North Webster. He was born at home March 20, 1923, in Pierceton, near Ridinger Lake, to Lester John Newton and Hazel Mildred Mock Gray, who were descendants of two local pioneering families. On June 10, 1949, in Salem Church, Bremen, he married Mildred Pauline Lamprecht, who survives in Leesburg. They were married for 66 years. He was a lifetime area resident and attended North Webster High School. He formerly was employed at Union Tool, Warsaw; Barth Manufacturing, Milford; and he was a security guard for Reams & Stuart. He was a member of the North Webster United Methodist Church and formerly attended the Mock Christian Church (Country Bible Church) and Morris Chapel United Methodist Church. Also surviving are: two daughters, Carolyn Irene (and spouse Glenn) Meeks, Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Melody Ann (and spouse Dan) Ewald, Leesburg; a son, M. Lynn Gray, Leesburg; two grandchildren, Eric and Cassandra Ewald; two brothers-in-law, Paul Lamprecht and Harold Baker; three cousins: Danny (and spouse Nancy) Gray, Tony (and spouse Pat) Strombeck and Gladys Strombeck Culver; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents; a sister, Luella Shoemaker; a brother, Charles Gray; and a nephew, LaVene Gray. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Owen Family Funeral Home, Ind. 13 and CR 500N, North Webster, with Pastor Byron Kaiser of the church officiating. Burial is in Mock Addition of the North Webster Cemetery. Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 13067, Alexandria, VA 22312; St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105; or Paralyzed Veterans of America, 7 Mill Brook Rd, Wilton, NH 03086. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences via www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com
