Roger C. Gray

TOULON - Roger C. Gray (86) from Toulon, IL passed away to meet his Heavenly Father on Sunday, June 19, 2022. 

The funeral service for Roger will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 23 at Rux Funeral Home in Galva. Visitation will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Pastor Don Reul will officiate. Burial will be at Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kewanee where military rites will be accorded by the Galva Fusiliers. Following the funeral will be a memorial luncheon at the United Methodist Church in LaFayette. For those family and friends too remote to attend, the services will be streamed at https://www.facebook.com/events/1675058626182345/

Roger was born October 15, 1935 to Raymond L. Gray and Eva (Behnke) Gray. Both have proceeded him in death. Roger married Peggy L. Robinson in the First Baptist Church of Galva on October 30, 1955. Roger is survived by Peggy and their two sons, Alan R. Gray (Sally) of Monroe, NC and Michael D. Gray (Amy) of Chesterfield, MO. There are 6 grandchildren, Amanda Elizabeth Porth (Mark) of Kansas City, MO, April Jillian Gray of Kansas City, MO, Abigail Rose Richey (Paden) of Oak Harbor, WA, Nicole (Chad) Hall of Lancaster, KY, Michael David Gray (Charity) of Hardinsburg, IN, Gabriel A. Gray of Monroe, NC and three great-grandchildren Trinity, David Roger and Eleanor Grace.

During grade school, Roger went to one room schools. From grade 1 through grade 5, he attended the West Jersey Hickory Grove School, then to the School in West Jersey, followed by grade 7 and 8 at the Pleasant View School 2 miles east of West Jersey.  Roger completed all four years at the Toulon Township High School in Toulon graduating in 1953.  After graduation, he took several agriculture short course classes at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.  Some of his civic endeavors were being elected to the West Jersey Township Board, the Toulon High School Board of Education and being President of the Toulon Stark County Board.  He enlisted in an Artillery Unit of the Galva National Guard in March of 1954.  There he was promoted up the ranks to First Sergeant.  Then in 1970 he transferred to the Kewanee National Guard, operating the maintenance shop for the Battalion, retiring in 1995 as a Veteran Chief Warrant Officer CW4 with over 40-1/2 years Army military service.  He performed Duty in several of Illinois’ flooding assignments and took part in quelling the 1968 Chicago Riots.  He was also assigned military duty in both Germany and Egypt.  

Roger held several positions in the West Jersey Methodist Church, the Lafayette United Methodist Church and, most recently, the Baptist Church of Galva, IL. For 15 years he and Peggy were snowbirds going to Florida, and while there, were active in the Sunny Breeze Christian Community Church.  Roger and Peggy celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on October 30, 2021.  He so much loved his family, enjoying the times that could be spent together, fishing and enjoying the wonders of Mother Nature.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Galva or to the Stark County Ambulance Service.

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