William Charles Gray

Bill was born in Oakmont, PA on Aug. 1, 1928 and grew up in DeLand, Fl.  He moved to this area in 1940 attending Montgomery Hills Jr. High, and Montgomery Blair High School.  He joined the Navy in 1946 and served for 3 years.

Bill’s first marriage produced three children. William Richard Gray, Lorelei Sharman, and Jeffrey Boyd Gray who preceded him in death.

Bill and Nancy were married in 1962 and had four children in their 57 years together.  William Charles Gray Jr., with girlfriend Susan, Thomas Allen Gray, with wife Gemma, Jamey Boyd Gray, with wife Monica, and Kathryn Marie Dwyer, with husband Jeff.

His blended family includes 14 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Bill was employed all of his working years in the plumbing and heating industry.  His considerable talents were employed over the years with Crane Co., Harrison Bros., Thomas Somerville Co., Raub Supply and Atlantic Plumbing Supply Co.  Bill held many positions throughout his career, including outside sales engineer, branch manager, purchasing agent and executive vice president.  His specialty was designing hydronic heating systems, and in his retired years had his own consulting company and occasionally taught classes at Harry Eklof & Associates and most recently at Cummins Wagner Co., Inc.

Bill loved to tinker in his well equipped workshop and could fix almost anything. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many years, with a travel trailer and pontoon boat, at a campground at Lake Anna in Virginia. Bill was a huge Southern Gospel music fan and attended many concerts. He coached boy’s basketball for the city of Rockville and women’s softball in the Montgomery County recreation league.

He was very active in his church of 45 years, Francis Asbury UMC, in Rockville and lately Millian Memorial UMC. He was also active in his Masonic lodge and in Job’s Daughters, a masonic organization for girls.

Bill and Nancy retired to Riderwood Retirement community in 2017.

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