Paul Fredric Gray

Paul Fredric Gray, 95, retired Vice-President and Manager of the Wellington Office of Elyria Savings and Trust Bank died Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Born in Wellington, Ohio, he spent most of his life there; he attended the local school and graduated in 1933 as President of his class. He worked at Kroger Grocery from graduation until 1935 when he joined the First Wellington Bank staff. On August 6, 1938 he married Lillie Naegele. In October of 1943 he was inducted into the Armed Forces and was placed in the 12th Infantry, 4th Division (Ivy). He was in combat in the bloody battle of Cherbourg, Normandy, France and in the Hurtgen Forest, Germany. As sergeant he earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the ETO ribbon with two bronze stars and a purple hear with an oak leaf cluster. He received a disability discharge in June 1945 after being wounded twice. When he returned to civilian life he also returned to the First Wellington Bank staff. In 1962 First Wellington merged with Elyria Savings and Trust, which he served as Manager until his retirement in 1982. He was fondly known as Mr. Banker of Southern Lorain County. He was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church where he served as auditor for several years after his retirement. He was the Board Clerk of the Wellington Exempted Village School District for thirteen years and served as treasurer for the levy committee for many years. Paul was a member of Wellington Lodge F&AM #127; 32nd degree mason and shriner. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Paul served on the original committee to determine the need for Lorain County Community College and was a member of the committee to build Girl Scouts Camp Timberlane. He was a past president of Kiwanis and the WHS Alumni Association. He was a member of Library Friends, Southern Lorain County Historical Society, the Wellington Eagles and Disabled American Veterans. In 1982, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce presented him with the Citizen of the Year Award for his many contributions to the community. In 1989, Paul was the recipient of the first Friend of Education Award to be given by the Wellington Education Association. In 1985 he appeared on National Television in the documentary The Unknown Soldier by Arnold Shapiro Studios. He is survived by Lillie, his wife of almost 73 years; his daughter, Paula (Alan) Eggleston; two grandchildren, Anthony Eggleston and Suzanne (Matt) Perlik and great granddaughter, Annika Perlik. Two nieces and two nephews also survive. His parents, three sisters, and one brother preceded him in death. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 28 at the First United Methodist Church of Wellington, 127 Park Place, with Masonic Services held at 7:30 p.m. Friends will also be received from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. service on Friday at Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, 370 S. Main St., Wellington, with Rev. Lea Mahan officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Wellington with military rites. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wellington School Endowment Fund, 201 S. Main St., Wellington. OH 44090, First United Methodist Church of Wellington, 127 Park Place, Wellington, OH 44090, Wellington Masonic Lodge #127, 100 S. Main St., Wellington, OH 44090 or the Building Fund for Western Reserve Masonic Community Dementia Unit, 4931 Nettleton Rd., Medina, OH 44256.