AKRON - Wm. Edward Gray, 93, of 827 E. Rochester St., Akron, died at 7:17 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008, in the emergency room at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.
He was born Dec. 5, 1914, in Denver, to Richard and Gertrude E. Sunday Gray. On Jan. 14, 1942, in Akron, he married Elizabeth Ann Arter, who survives.
He retired from Sonoco Products Co., Akron, in 1977, where he was the assistant plant manager in charge of production after 25 years. Prior to Sonoco he worked for True Temper or the Rittenhouse Co., Akron. He was stationed in Washington, D.C., as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. During that time he stood guard over President Roosevelt's casket in the Rotunda in Washington, D.C. He lived in the Akron area since 1927, coming from the Mentone and Miami County areas. He was a member of Akron United Methodist Church, Akron. He enjoyed fishing and golfing.
Also surviving are a son, Philip E. (and spouse Ivy) Gray, Fort Wayne; a granddaughter, Holly (and spouse Ted) Raney, Fort Wayne; a grandson, Brian (and spouse April) Gray, Fort Wayne; three great-granddaughters, Aliya and Gretchen Raney, and Morgan Miller; a great-grandson, Wyatt Raney; three sisters: Mary Ellen Wise, Warsaw; Vivian Spence, Rochester; and Lois (and spouse Allen) Woolley, Akron; a brother, Garland "Bud" (and spouse Shirley) Gray, Akron; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Cora Katherine Benner; and four brothers, Richard O., Clifford, John W. and Robert Gray.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester St., Akron, with pastors Karen Ottjes and Steve Fleck officiating. Burial will be in Akron Cemetery, with graveside military rites by members of Leroy Shelton American Legion Post 36 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1343, both in Rochester.
Calling is from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
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Memorials to the Akron United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be sent to www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com
