WILLIAM-GRAY-Obituary

WILLIAM GRAY

RICHMOND, Virginia

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RICHMOND, Virginia
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GRAY, William Gaskins, of Midlothian, Virginia, died on Wednesday, March 13, 2013. He was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. Corbelle Katon and Ruth Hart Gray. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carol Capel Gray; his children, Donald K. Gray and his wife, Lynn Gray, Paul E. Gray and his wife, Amoret Bunn, and Suzanne Gray Ventriglia and her husband, Gary Ventriglia; his brothers, Robert E. Gray and his wife, Kathy Gray, and James K. Gray and his wife, Lyn Gray; and their son, Rafael Gray; and his grandchildren, Elizabeth Gray, Catherine Gray, Sara Ventriglia and Jason Ventriglia; and numerous other family and friends. Bill, as he was known to his family and friends, graduated from Randolph-Macon College (R-MC) in 1966. He was an Old Dominion Foundation Fellow at both the University of Virginia and Yale University. He taught English Language Arts for 20 years in Chesterfield County. After he left the school system, he worked for 10 years for National Computer Systems (NCS), selling data collection/ reporting systems to public school districts. Afterward, he was a business partner and then the owner of his own business, Survey Products, doing much the same work as he had at NCS. He retired in 2002. Along the way, he was active in groups associated with his career and interests: President of the Chesterfield Education Association; Chair of the Virginia Education Association Departments Council; President of the Virginia Association of Teachers of English; Education Committee Chair of the Chesterfield Ruritan Club; Board Member of the National Council of Teachers of English; Campaign Director of the John Waldrop for Congress, 3rd District of Virginia; Founder/Board Chair of the Eastern Montgomery Educational Foundation; Board Member of the Old Brunswick Circuit Foundation; Project Coordinator of the Moreland Monument Committee; Chair of the R-MC Annual Fund; and Class Fundraising Agent for the R-MC Class of 1966. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the The Corbelle Katon and Ruth Hart Gray Scholarship Fund for pre-ministerial students at Randolph Macon College, P. O. Box 5005; Ashland, VA 23005 or another charity of your choice. The family will receive family and friends on Saturday, March 16 from 5 until 7 p.m. and on Sunday, March 17, and from 2 until 4 p.m. at Bliley's Funeral Home, Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull Street Road, Richmond, Va. 23224. A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 18, at Bliley's Funeral Home, Chippenham Chapel. The burial will take place immediately after the memorial service at Dale Memorial Park.

This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

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I never got to spend much time with my grandfather. I do not remember much about him. He died when I was 5. I never really got to meet him. I wish I had been able to spend more time with him. One thing I can remember is he would always be waiting at the door for us to arrive when we would visit. I would run up to him and hug him. He was an amazing grandfather and could always make me laugh. His memory lives on in alll of us.

My grandfather was a great man and I am sad I did not get to spend more time with him.

Hi Kristen. I saw your note and thought I would add mine. They clean up Dale Memorial Cemetery every spring from March 1 thru 15. I was there returning some flowers I picked up March one from three of my great aunts graves and I walked over to visit with Uncle Bill for a few minutes while I was there. He taught me English my senior year at Manchester High. The best teacher to be sure.(as Grandma would say)
Uncle Bill,
We(family & friends) miss you so very much. You left us way...

I always thought I would come home and try to visit Mr. Gray's family so that I could tell them in person how much he meant to me. I rarely go home now.....my own family has grown and commitments keep me here in Texas most of the time. However, I look back very fondly on the years I knew Mr. Gray and I am thankful to the Lord for his kindness and his friendship to me over the span of 34 years. Mr. Gray was one of the most exceptional educators I ever encountered and he was also fun,...

So sorry you were not here for our #52. Miss you so much.

My God... My heart is so heavy... My friend, fellow teacher (and office mate), my creative muse... You were all of those and then some. And Carol.. I celebrate the life you two had together and the friendship you and Bill always extended to me... Love and sincere wishes for peace
Howard Cobbs

I am saddened to hear of Mr. Gray's passing. He was a mentor to me in many ways. A kind and generous man, he gave his time to many people and many worthy causes. I will miss the Christmas Cards detailing life in the Gray Family. May God's grace bring comfort to all of his family,

He was my english teacher in 1974 and a friend since 1984. I will miss my friend.

Mr. Gray was my freshman english teacher at Monacan High School. He managed to make the mundane, fun. He was a friend among teachers and we had a ball kidding around with him. He was always there for a laugh or a helping hand.
It was Mr. Gray who lit my way toward a great High School achievement, being inducted into the National Honor Society.
My memories of high school are fond ones due to folks like Bill Gray. I mourn his passing, pass on my prayers to the family and wish...