ODFORD OLIN “BUCK” GRAY, age 90 years, a resident of Parsons, WV departed this life early Saturday morning, March 5, 2011 at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center at Clarksburg, WV, following a brief illness.
He was born Friday, November 19, 1920 at Parsons, WV, a son of the late Herman E. and Ida Blanche Evans Gray. On February 15, 1948 at St. Johns United Methodist Church at Parsons, WV, he was married to Margaret Pauline Tahaney, who preceded him in death May 11, 2009. They had celebrated sixty one years of marriage.
Surviving are two sons, Patrick Allen Gray and wife Lynda of Parsons, Timothy Lee Gray of Shinnston; daughter in law, Carolyn Myers Gray of Parsons; one half brother, Harold Gray of Philippi; two half sisters, Virginia Bohon and Wanda Carr and husband Leon, all of OH; two granddaughters, Kelly and Sabrina and five great grandchildren, Grayson, Brailey, Abram, Gavin and Greylyn and nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are one son, Gregory Lynn Gray; three brothers, James W. Gray, Junior Gray and Johnny Gray and two sisters, Evelyn Swinford and Freda Parsons.
He was a graduate of Parsons High School with the Class of 1939. He was a Veteran of the United States Army Air Force during WWII, serving in the European Theatre. He was a member of St. Johns United Methodist Church for many years and held various positions of the church. He was a mail carrier, worked in the Steel Mills of OH, the WV Dept. of Highways, Tucker Co. Board of Educ. as a school bus driver. He worked at the former Dorman Mills as a Supervisor, United Merchants of NC and Stillwell of Virginia as a Forman. He was owner and operator of the former Parsons News & Novelty and he was owner and operator of the former Tucker Farm Supply of Parsons. He worked for Performance Motor Co. for many years. He enjoyed bowling with the Tucker Co. Senior Citizens and he enjoyed traveling.
The family will receive friends at the St. Johns United Methodist Church of Parsons on Tuesday from 5 to 8 PM. Final rites will be conducted at the church on Wednesday March 9, 2011 at 11 AM. The Rev. John Morrison will officiate and interment will follow at the Parsons City Cemetery at Parsons, WV, where the H.W. Daniels Post #29 American Legion, the Tygart Valley Post #3647 Veterans of Foreign War and the Tucker Co. Veterans Assoc. will conduct full military rites.
