John Schray

1934 - 2011

Major John Albert Schray
(USAF retired)
1934 – 2011
John Albert Schray passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully with his family by his side June 16, 2011. He was born in Allentown, PA on June 19, 1934 (his birthday and Father's Day often coinciding).
He joined the Air Force as an officer and while stationed in Morocco he met the love of his life his wife Ginette who was teaching French to American school children on the base. Shortly thereafter he was reassigned but they wrote to each other for almost 2 years until he was able to return when he proposed! They were married in Marrakesh on March 2, 1956.
After marrying they returned to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho to start a family. Dad was also stationed at Randolph AFB (San Antonio, TX), March AFB (CA) & Walker AFB (Roswell, NM) with his last assignment at Plattsburgh AFB, (Plattsburgh, NY).
Our dad thoroughly enjoyed his 20 years as an officer in the United States Air Force. He was a Navigator flying KC-135 refuels with Strategic Air Command. He flew many missions and was deployed to all parts of the world to help protect our freedom and liberties. His grandson Henry was inspired to join the Air Force after hearing about Poppy's world travels and the good life the Air Force provided him.
After retiring from the Air Force as a Major in 1973 he started a new career in Hotel Management. This took him and his family to Honolulu, Hawaii where he obtained his Bachelors in Business Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawaii. He worked in Sales and Marketing at the Hale Koa Hotel and loved living and working in Hawaii.
John and Ginette moved back to California for a time where he worked in Management at Holiday Inn and later the Hilton in Stockton, CA. While in Stockton they helped to raise their granddaughter Taylour for two years while her mother went back to college. While living in Stockton he decided to obtain his Real Estate license studying hard once again. Once hard at work selling real estate he won the prestige million dollar seller award.
Missing the islands our parents moved back to Honolulu for a few more years where dad was Property Manager of the Waikiki Shores in Waikiki. Imagine having a job right on the beach and wearing an aloha shirt to work every day. He loved it!
He was also an active member of Rotary in Honolulu, Stockton and Santa Maria (wherever he lived) for many years, like his brother Walter.
In their retirement years they made the decision to relocate from Honolulu to Santa Maria in 1998 to be closer to their children and grandchildren, after living a total of 22 years in the land of Aloha. His son Johnny was living in Santa Maria at the time and told him "The weather is tropical in Santa Maria Dad. The wind blows like the trade winds, the temperature is in the mid-70s and the sun shines wonderfully over the ocean from Pismo Beach to LA" he was sold.
While in Santa Maria he also took up substitute teaching. He was an avid learner as evidenced by his many careers and was a teacher to us all. Our dad was a gentle man with strong convictions and a strong work ethic he learned while in his military career. He was a devoted loving husband and a very loving father, who was always there for his children his entire life. He was a man with pride, dignity, loyalty, understanding, compassion and a great sense of humor no matter what. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren (who knew him as Poppy) and knew that he was loved by a great many people. He loved life and had quality of life by everyone who cared for him in his retirement. Not one day went by that he didn't miss his loving wife whom he was married to for 52 years prior to her passing in May 2009.
John is survived by his daughter Cynthia Schray of Santa Barbara; granddaughter Taylor Schray-Taylor and husband Jesse and great-grandson Ethan Albert Taylor of Midlothian, Virginia; son John Albert Schray III and wife Maria Limon-Schray of Lemoore; granddaughter Claudine Galan and husband Rick and great-grandchildren Catie and Ricky of Santa Clarita; grandson Air Force Tech Sergeant Henry Lopez currently stationed at Okinawa, Japan; granddaughter Estelle (Stelly) Lopez of Australia; brother Walter and wife Susie of Hillsdale, Michigan; great-auntie Juliet Schray of Broomfield, Colorado; and many more relatives back east in Pennsylvania. His father passed away when he was 11 years old, and his mother raised him and his brother by herself, she precedes him in death.
At a later date his family plans on granting his wishes to be buried at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia. Like his wife he loved the islands of Hawaii which is why Hawaiian attire is required for his services. He believed his life should be celebrated like the Irish but Hawaiian style!
Thank you to all who were kind and caring to our dad (and Poppy) as we miss him very much and love him with all our hearts. God bless you and your families.
Funeral Services will be held at 3pm on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church located at 402 South Lincoln Street, Santa Maria, CA. The service will be officiated by the Reverend Canon Deborah Dunn.
In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary compassionate fund, P.O. Box 1518, Santa Maria, CA 93456.
Arrangements are in the care of Magner-Maloney Funeral Home and Crematory. Sympathy notes and words of support may be expressed at www.magnermaloney.com