Charles M. Grayston

Charles McCrea Grayston died on September 8, 2022 at the age of 94. Born in Joplin, Missouri in 1928 to Charles McCord Grayston and Esther McCrea Grayston, Charley had an abiding interest in radio which began when he was six years old and his father gave him an Atwater-Kent. He went on to pursue an education and a career in electrical engineering with the goal of working in radio broadcasting. Upon graduation from Iowa State University in 1950, he immediately took the examination for a first class radio telephone license and was quickly offered several jobs in radio stations in southwestern Missouri. He began in Carthage, Monett and Joplin, Missouri. He then went to Springfield, MO where he was chief engineer at KICK radio. The lure of television took him back to Joplin.

While working at KODE-TV Joplin, he and his wife Joan reorganized a defunct Civil Air Patrol squadron where he served as communications officer and pilot. While in Joplin, he was solicited by the RCA Service Company for a job at the Atlantic Missile Range in Florida. There he began inspecting communications stations throughout the missile range from Florida to Trinidad. He eventually made the transition to the study of interference problems among communications systems and the hazards of those systems to personnel; his work there brought him to the attention of the Air Force (GEEIA) agency responsible for overseeing the installation of radar and communications throughout the world. He stayed with GEEIA for the next 6 years, transferring to the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1965. During the first year in Huntsville, he was asked to join the professional staff at the Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Center in Annapolis, Maryland. He moved to Annapolis to work for ECAC/IITRI (ALION) for the remainder of his professional career. In 1971 he became concerned about continued employment opportunities in the engineering profession, and enrolled in the University of Baltimore School of Law. He completed his Juris Doctor in 1976 and was admitted to the bar that year, and in 1983 made the transition from engineering to Advisor to the Director of Administration.

In 1976 he began serving on Annapolis city boards and commissions; his longest period of service was 26 years with the City of Annapolis Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

Enlisting in Boy Scouts at age 12, he served in youth and adult positions for 20 years. There he made life-long friends and learned many of life's skills.

An Amateur Extra Class radio operator, he enjoyed building electronic kits and designing his own. Beginning in 2000 and nearly every year thereafter, he attended the largest amateur radio convention in the world in Dayton, Ohio.

In 1963 he attended an Episcopal church service for the first time. He was immediately captured by the Book of Common Prayer, its order of services, and its beautiful prayers. His favorite prayer was the Prayer for Guidance. He was a member of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church where he served as Chancellor, Vestryman, Senior Warden, and Diocesan Representative.

Charley was predeceased by his wife Joan after 52 years of marriage. He is survived by his daughters Erica (Keith) Arnold and Alexis (Thomas) Roy, three granddaughters and one great-grandson.

Funeral services for Charley will be held on September 16, 2022 at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, 1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis beginning at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at the church columbarium. Online condolences may be made at www.LastingTributesFuneralCare.com