Charles Edwin Gray, 92, of the Chillicothe/Henry/Sparland area, died Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at the Heartland Health Care Center in Henry, where he had resided for the past nine months.
Born Aug. 10, 1917, in Marshall County, Ill., to Frank and Bessie Holmes Gray, he married Dortha Ladd on Jan. 24, 1940 in Henry. She died in 2001.
He was preceded in death by one sister.
Surviving are one brother, Franklin of Henry, one daughter, Connie (Wayne) Livingston of Longwood, Fla., one son, Tom (Janet) Gray of Owatonna, Minn., six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
During World War II, he served in the Philippines in the Navy Construction Battalion from November 1943 to Dec. 12, 1945, and received his honorable discharge along with the Illinois citation for Meritorious Service and the Asiatic Pacific Victory Ribbon.
Active in farming in Marshall County for 35 years from 1948 to 1983, he also participated in the local volunteer fire department as well as in the Saratoga Methodist Church.
After retiring to Chillicothe, he supported the Chillicothe Historical Society and the Marshall County and Peoria County Genealogical Society, as well as the Pearce Community Center.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Chillicothe where services are at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Rev. Ted Mitchell will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour before services at the church. Burial will be in Henry City Cemetery. Arrangements are by Weber-Hurd Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Chillicothe First United Methodist Church and the Chillicothe Historical Society.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.weberhurdfuneralhome.com.
Henry, Ill. —
