Gray, Clifton W.

GRAY, TAPLIN, REHMSTEDT, GREFF

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer poster (email)
Date: 6/2/2008 at 16:37:10

Gray, Clifton W. View/Sign Guest Book

MILES — Clifton W. Gray, age 87, of Miles, Iowa, died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at the Mercy Medical Center North, Clinton, Iowa. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 30, 2008, at the First United Presbyterian Church, Miles, Iowa, with Pastor Bill Warhover officiating. Visitation will be 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2008, at the Law-Jones Funeral Home Preston, Iowa. Burial will be in the Miles Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the First United Presbyterian Church, Miles, Iowa. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.Clifton W. Gray was born 15 May 1921 to John and Luella Taplin Gray on the family farm, rural Sabula, Iowa. He attended elementary school at Sterling Corners, Iowa, and graduated from Miles High School in 1938. He married Mary Rehmstedt on July 11, 1943. Mr. Gray worked on his brother Lorraine’s farm following high school graduation. In 1941, he went to work at Savanna Ordnance Depot, Savanna, IL, as a munitions operator. In 1943, he attended training to become an ammunition inspector/quality assurance specialist (Ammunition Surveillance) (QASAS), a profession he pursued for the remainder of his career. His professional career took him to multiple locations within the United States and overseas. His stateside duty locations included Savanna, IL; Romulus, NY; Igloo, SD (twice); Richmond, KY; Chambersburg, PA; Pueblo, CO (twice) and Hermiston, OR. Additionally, he served overseas with assignments in Okinawa, Captieux, France, Ikego, Japan; Camp Howard and Seoul, Korea; Long Binh, Vietnam, and Miesau, Germany. Mr. Gray retired in January 1980 with over 38 years of federal service, while living in Pueblo, CO. He and Mary remained in Pueblo until returning to Miles, IA, in January 1982. Mr. Gray was an avid gardener, bridge player and Chicago Cubs fan. He enjoyed sharing the harvest from his garden with family and friends. He was a longtime member of Miles Presbyterian Church, serving as congregational treasurer for several years. He and Mary were strong supporters of the annual ammunition inspector/QASAS retirees‚ picnic held in the Quad-Cities, organizing several picnics and attending every picnic since its inception in 1983. He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Mary Gray; and four children, Jaclyn (David) Greff of Macungie, PA; James (Rachel) Gray of Brandon, FL; John (Loretta) Gray of Wiesbaden, Germany; and Jerry (Kathleen) Gray of Flower Mound, TX. He is survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, two sisters and two daughters-in-law, Karen Gray and Rita Gray. Death date: May 27, 2008
Published in the Clinton Herald from 5/28/2008 - 5/30/2008.