Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mr. John Archie Gray, 78, of Mount Hope, WV departed this life on Monday, October 28, 2019 following a sudden illness. He was born in Cabin Creek, WV to the late John D. and Clementene Spencer Gray on September 3, 1941. He was proceeded in death by his wife, Gladys Smith Gray on January 19, 2009.

John relocated to Orrville, OH after successfully completing his welding program in Oak Hill, WV. In Orrville, he began his 27year welding career at Orrville Products, during that time he was also employed as a truck driver by Mast Lepley Silo, Inc. He later continued his welding career with Massey Ferguson in Cuyahoga Falls, OH and relocated to Des Moines, IA with the company in 1980. No stranger to hard work, upon his return to Mount Hope, WV a few years later, he entered entrepreneurship and took on the family business, The Loup Creek Trash Co. and continued to run the business until his untimely passing. In addition to running the family business, John also enjoyed protecting and serving his community as a security officer with the local sheriff’s department and other agencies.

When John wasn’t busy working, he enjoyed spending time with his family and playing Bingo with his late wife, Gladys, they played locally and even travelled for various Bingo excursions. John never met a stranger.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Gladys, he was proceeded in death by his son-in-law, Lawrance Bradley, granddaughter, Veronica Gray, brother, Frank Gray, and sister, Trishia Daniels.

John will be missed dearly by his sons, John Jerome (Delores) Gray of Tallahassee, FL, Spencer L. (Stella) Gray and James V. Gray, both of Orrville, OH; daughter, Teresa A. Gray Bradley of Orrville, OH; grandchildren, Allison Nicole Gray, Ashley Gray, Schanel (Willie) Harvey, Spencer “Bud” (Cierra) Gray, Myleaka Griffin, Daequan Benford, Sean Gray, Seth Gray, and Jaheim Gray; eight (8) great-grandchildren, plus one on the way; and one (1) great-great-grandchild; brothers, Frederick Gray of Mount Hope, WV, Glen (Marieia) Gray Sr. of Landover, MD, and Rodney (Doris) Gray of Mount Hope, WV; sister, Debra (John) Swafford of Des Moines, IA; brother-in-law, Linwood Daniels of Camden, NJ; sister-in-law, Viola Gray of Millsboro, DE and a host of family and friends.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Saturday, November 9, 2019 at United Missionary Baptist Church 205 S. Fayette Ave. Mount Hope, WV with Bishop James Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley