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Perrysburg – David Louis Gray, age 62, died on May 31, 2023 after a short illness.
He was born and raised in Portsmouth Virginia. David was a graduate of IC Norcom High School, Tidewater Community College, and Old Dominion University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree. Following in the tradition of the Gray men, David was a fourth-generation civil service employee at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, initially as a steamfitter and later as a nuclear mechanical systems inspector. In 1993 he moved to western New York to work at the West Valley Demonstration Project, where he met his future wife Gayla Gross. David eventually achieved the position of Facility Representative for the U.S. Department of Energy.
David and Gayla married in 1996. They had enjoyed nearly 27 years of marriage together at the time of his death.
David was the rare individual who could troubleshoot, repair, or build just about anything. He was a skilled electrician, plumber, welder, carpenter, and mechanic. He had multiple various projects in different stages of planning and completion, and was looking forward to his impending retirement when he could finally focus on all of them and read his backlog of Tom Clancy novels. He was studying Italian and French in preparation for a long-planned family vacation abroad and had been learning to play the bass guitar.
David was a board member of the Boy Scouts of America Allegheny Highlands Council of New York and Pennsylvania, and was the Scoutmaster for Troop 276 in Gowanda New York. He belonged to the Order of the Arrow, spearheaded the National Youth Leadership Training program for the Council, and recently was recognized with the Venturing/Sea Scout Leadership Award and the Silver Beaver award. He was preparing to lead his Scouts on their first trip to the National Jamboree in WV in July.
He is survived by wife Gayla and daughter Julia of Perrysburg NY; mother Charlene Gray of South Hill VA; brother Thomas Gray (Jenna) of Crewe VA, and an extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son Robert, his father Hervy L. Gray, and his brother Scott Gray.
Memorial donations may be made to the BSA Allegheny Highlands Council, PO Box 261, Falconer NY 14733. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 pm on Thursday June 8th , and Pastor Michael Nace will officiate the funeral at 11 am on Friday June 9, at the SCHINDLER FUNERAL HOME 44 Center St . Gowanda, the Rev. Michael Nace Officiating. Internment immediately following at Jolls Road Cemetery in Perrysburg.