World War II veteran, he serve in the Army Robert Lloyd Gray was born May 30, 1916, in Arlington, S.D., to Roy James Gray and Jessie Christianson Gray. He departed this life June 27, 2008, in Midland, Mich., at the age of 92.
He spent his early life in Arlington, then in 1935 moved with his family to Ava where his father ran the Ava Mill and Bob worked with him in the mill and gave lessons on the violin, which he had learned from his father.
Bob finished high school at Iberia Academy in Iberia, Mo., then received a scholarship to Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., where he earned a degree in music in 1941.
During World War II he served with the U.S. Army in Italy and North Africa. After the war he studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, earning his master’s degree in violin in 1947. There his accompanist was piano student Faith Witt and the couple were married on Feb. 3, 1950; to this union two children were born.
Bob spent his working years as a music teacher in the public schools of Midland, Mich., and as violinist/concertmaster with the Midland Symphony Orchestra.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Charlene Kester, of Ava, his sister, Maxine Ross, of Texas, and by three days his brother, Ted Gray, of Springfield, Mo.
He is survived by his wife, Faith, of the home; his daughter, Dr. Pam Dobson and husband, Dr. Joseph Dobson, of Green Bay, Wisc.; grandchildren, Caitlin, Kelsey and Ian Dobson; his son, Gary Gray, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; his brother, Ronnie Gray and wife, Bonnie, of Topeka, Kan.; and nieces and nephews including Marilyn Alms and Gary Kester, both of Ava.
The body has been cremated and memorial services will be held July 12 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Midland.
