1927
George
2015
George Robert Gray Jr.
June 27, 1927 — October 8, 2015
George Robert “Bob” Gray Jr., age 88, of Ripon, WI, passed away Thursday, October 8, 2015, at Ripon Medical Center in Ripon in the presence of his family.
Bob was born June 27, 1927, in Ripon, the son of George Robert and Olive Ruth (Buchholz) Gray. He attended and graduated from Ripon Public Schools. Bob trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and went on to serve our country in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in April of 1945, served with the Fleet Marines in Northern China and was honorably discharged as Seaman First Class in 1946. Bob attended Ripon College for one year before transferring to the University of Wisconsin Madison, School of Pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1950. Bob joined his father as pharmacist and owner of Gray’s Rexall Drug Store. After 49 years as a pharmacist he retired from Ripon Drug.
On December 29, 1956, Bob married his soulmate Gladys Zimmerman Smith in Ripon, WI.
He was a lifetime member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where he served as an acolyte and on the vestry. Bob was a longtime member and Past President of the Ripon Rotary where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest honor. He was a charter member and Past President of the Ripon Jaycees, a member of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, and Ripon Medical Center associate and volunteer. Bob was a natural athlete and enjoyed many sports including; track, softball, and basketball in his youth and later bowling and golf. Bob absolutely loved golf and was very proud of his three holes-in-one.
Survivors include his adored daughters, Lora Gray of Minneapolis, MN and Shelley (Grant) Boulanger of Saint Paul, MN; adored granddaughter, Amaya Boulanger and grandson, Alexander Boulanger; brother, David and Judith Gray of Ripon, WI, Jack and Shirley Gray of Neenah, WI, and sister in-law, Mildred Smith of Markesan, WI; 8 nieces; 3 nephews, and many other relatives and dear friends. Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife Gladys Gray on July 27, 2015. He is also preceded in death by his parents George Robert and Olive Ruth Gray and brother in-law Roger Smith.
Visitation for Bob will be held on Monday, October 12, 2015, from 11 – 1:30 p.m. at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, 515 Mayparty Dr., Ripon, WI 54971. Family and friends will be invited to proceed to St. Peters Episcopal Church, 217 Houston St., Ripon, WI 54971 for Mass of Christian Burial.
Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, October 12, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Ripon. Father Thomas H. McAlpine will officiate. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in the City of Ripon. Memorials may be sent to Ripon Medical Center, 845 Parkside St, Ripon, WI 54971 and to St. Peters Episcopal Church, 217 Houston St., Ripon, WI 54971.
The family would like to extend a special and sincere thank you to the staff at Prairie Place, Ripon Medical Center, and Markesan Nursing Home for their kindness, care, and compassion.
Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send online condolences
Bob was born June 27, 1927, in Ripon, the son of George Robert and Olive Ruth (Buchholz) Gray. He attended and graduated from Ripon Public Schools. Bob trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and went on to serve our country in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in April of 1945, served with the Fleet Marines in Northern China and was honorably discharged as Seaman First Class in 1946. Bob attended Ripon College for one year before transferring to the University of Wisconsin Madison, School of Pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1950. Bob joined his father as pharmacist and owner of Gray’s Rexall Drug Store. After 49 years as a pharmacist he retired from Ripon Drug.
On December 29, 1956, Bob married his soulmate Gladys Zimmerman Smith in Ripon, WI.
He was a lifetime member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where he served as an acolyte and on the vestry. Bob was a longtime member and Past President of the Ripon Rotary where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest honor. He was a charter member and Past President of the Ripon Jaycees, a member of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, and Ripon Medical Center associate and volunteer. Bob was a natural athlete and enjoyed many sports including; track, softball, and basketball in his youth and later bowling and golf. Bob absolutely loved golf and was very proud of his three holes-in-one.
Survivors include his adored daughters, Lora Gray of Minneapolis, MN and Shelley (Grant) Boulanger of Saint Paul, MN; adored granddaughter, Amaya Boulanger and grandson, Alexander Boulanger; brother, David and Judith Gray of Ripon, WI, Jack and Shirley Gray of Neenah, WI, and sister in-law, Mildred Smith of Markesan, WI; 8 nieces; 3 nephews, and many other relatives and dear friends. Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife Gladys Gray on July 27, 2015. He is also preceded in death by his parents George Robert and Olive Ruth Gray and brother in-law Roger Smith.
Visitation for Bob will be held on Monday, October 12, 2015, from 11 – 1:30 p.m. at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, 515 Mayparty Dr., Ripon, WI 54971. Family and friends will be invited to proceed to St. Peters Episcopal Church, 217 Houston St., Ripon, WI 54971 for Mass of Christian Burial.
Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, October 12, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Ripon. Father Thomas H. McAlpine will officiate. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in the City of Ripon. Memorials may be sent to Ripon Medical Center, 845 Parkside St, Ripon, WI 54971 and to St. Peters Episcopal Church, 217 Houston St., Ripon, WI 54971.
The family would like to extend a special and sincere thank you to the staff at Prairie Place, Ripon Medical Center, and Markesan Nursing Home for their kindness, care, and compassion.
Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send online condolences
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of George Robert Gray Jr., please visit our flower store.
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