Delbert Newton Gray 1922-2011

GRAY, WILEY, MELLON, KOSFIELD, SCHNEIDER, OEHLKE, HINSLEY, HOLLENBECK

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 7/8/2011 at 12:39:45

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa June 29, 2011)

GRAY, Delbert Newton, 89, of Liberty, Missouri, died on Friday, June 17, 2011, in Liberty, Missouri.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa June 29, 2011)

DELBERT NEWTON GRAY ... Delbert Newton Gray, 89, of Liberty, Missouri, was born May 4, 1922, in Lamoni, Iowa to Zeblin and Muriel [Wiley] Gray. He passed away June 17, 2011, in Liberty, Missouri.

Delbert was a farmer and was drafted twice and received deferments twice. The third time he was drafted, he got a letter from FDR saying FDR needed him. So he had to go. He was transferred over seas on the Queen Mary. There were so many troops, they had to take turns in sleeping on the deck and in the cabins, he usually got the deck. Delbert was in the Army from December 14, 1942 until December 20, 1945.

While in the service, he operated trucks and vehicles transporting military personnel as well as distributing supplies to combat units and was over areas which were under enemy observation. He was in the following campaigns and battles, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes Rhineland and Central Europe. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, with one battle star. Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, service stripe and three overseas service bars.

After the war, he moved to Kansas City and drove a truck for 35 years before retiring from Yellow Freight.

Delbert was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Carol and Gene.

He is survived by his four children: Dennis (Teresa) Gray from Cabot, AR, Sue Mellon, liberty, MO, Diane (Larry) Kosfield, Greenwood, MO and Steve (Carolyn) Gray, Smithville, MO; four grandchildren: Becky (Mike) Schneider, Liberty, MO, Richard Gray, Cabot AR, Jennifer Gray and husband Brandon Oehlke, Cabot, AR and Courtney Hinsley, Kansas City, MO; two great-grandchildren: Meghan and Alec Schneider, liberty, MO; one sister, Birdie Hollenbeck, Walnut Creek, CA; three brothers, Lyle (Helen) Gray, Lamoni, IA, Wiley Gray and Lois, Newton, IA, and Melvin (Peggy) Gray, Lamoni, IA; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Delbert loved his family, playing cards, the dog track, laughter and country music, especially the Grand Ole Opry. He could sing Hank Snow, Lefty Frizzel, Jimmie Rodgers and Roy Acuff just to name a few. Most of all he loved his kiddos. Many times he would say I've got the best kiddos in the world, then he would say I've got the best grand kids in the world, but then came the great-grand kids.