John Thomas Gray, the son of Thomas and Helen (Tollen) Gray was born March 30, 1936 at Red Oak, Iowa. He passed away on Friday, November 9, 2018 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 82 years, 7 months and 8 days.

John was raised in Red Oak and graduated from Red Oak High School in l953. John entered the U. S. Navy on July 16, 1953, serving during Korea and Vietnam. He was honorably discharged after a 20-year career. Following the service, John lived in Louisiana where he worked in aircraft maintenance. He returned to Red Oak for a short time and then relocated to El Paso, Texas where he worked for Chase Aircraft. In 2005, John moved back to Red Oak. He was a member of the American Legion Lorraine Post #67, V.F.W. and Naval Fleet Reserve Association. John loved his family as they were important to him, his brothers, sisters, all his nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, even though they nicknamed him, Old Uncle Grumpy.

John was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers: Ernest, Daniel, Frank, Norbert, Robert and Roger; three sisters: Eula Orelup, Katherine Lewis and Marcella Pister.

John is survived by his sister, Mildred Gray of Red Oak, IA; brother, William "Bill" Gray of Red Oak, IA; sisters-in-law: Elsie Gray of Red Oak, IA and Jan Gray of Des Moines, IA; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.

Memorial Graveside Services with Military Rites will be held

Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA

Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.