John Owen Gray, 86, of Southport, passed away July 11 at his home with his loving family at his side.
John was born Jan. 4, 1925 in Newagen, the son of the late Gilbert and Alice Stover Gray. He attended and graduated from local schools.
Near the end of WWII, he joined the US Navy, and served in the Submarine Service, primarily on the USS Flounder. He met Lorraine Hope Gray on a train when he was coming home to Maine for Thanksgiving in 1945 and they were married on Aug. 26, 1946.
As a pre-teen he was employed by Pratt’s Bowling setting up pins for bowling, raised chickens for Ray’s Chickens and delivered pies for his mother. Along with the GI Bill, he worked as a lobsterman to put himself through school, attending the University of Maine-Orono, and University of Florida. He received his BS, graduating in the Class of 1949 and later his Masters from University of Florida.
He was an electrical engineer employed by Watson Laboratory in New Jersey and later at Cape Canaveral, Fla. in 1951 helping run the first electric lines through marshes and swamps for missile launches. He then went on to work with Vitro Laboratories at Elgin AFB in Florida, Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City, Cal., TRW Systems Group, working on the Minuteman Missle System, and most recently Aerospace Corporation based at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
He lived for 20 years in Florida, and 20 years at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. During this time he traveled extensively throughout the United States with work related issues.
While working in Vandeburg, he purchased 20 acres of cow pasture, where he built a horse farm. In 1990 he retired and moved back to Maine, going back to work lobstering.
He was a member of the Charles E. Shuman American Legion, member and President of the Jaycees, was an avid bowler, he was a horseshoe throwing champion for his company, boxed as a golden glove while in College and was President of the local chapter of Dale Carnegie in Florida.
Education was very important to him.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Helen Eileen Gray.
Survivors include his loving wife of 65 years, Lorraine Hope Gray of Southport; daughters, Martha Lorraine Gray Little and husband Jeff of Chiloquin, Ore. and Alice Elizabeth Gray of Southport; grandchildren, James Gilbert Bennett and wife Laura of Bowdon, Ga., Timothy John Bennett and wife Rebecca of Blue Ridge, Ga. and Paul Gray Jones of Smithfield; great-grandchildren, James Singleton Bennett and Sidney Elizabeth Bennett of Bowdon, Ga. and Julius, Journey and Azalea Bennett of Blue Ridge, Ga.; and son-in-law, Michael Jones of Smithfield.
Memorial service 1 p.m., Fri., July 15 at Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, 975 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in John’s memory may be made to the Harold H. Beverage Award Fund/RCA Scholarship Fund, University of Maine-Orono, 5708 Barrows Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5781.
You are invited to share your condolences, photos, and memories with the Gray family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Boothbay.
