Joan B. Gray's Obituary
GRAY, Joan B., age 91, of Waynesville, passed away Christmas morning at her residence.
Joan earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Ohio University in 1953. She was a long-term member of the Fairmont Presbyterian Church in Kettering, where she served as an elder and trustee and sang in the choir. In addition, she was also a member of the Heritage Presbyterian Church in Centerville, where she also served as an elder. She was a member of the Miami Chapter Order of the Eastern Star in Waynesville for 64 years. Within the chapter, she served as a Worthy Matron several times, as their secretary for many years, and as a Deputy Grand Matron in 1999.
Independent, helpful, and outgoing, Joan had a great sense of humor and loved to tease, laugh, and joke with others. She was a great example of a philanthropist and always gave her time to numerous activities and organizations. While the children were growing up, she donated her time to support their school homerooms and activities, the library, and several other causes that supported them and the group they were participating in. Her hobbies included arts and crafts, ceramics, and nature. She loved feeding the backyard birds and taking trips to the natural world to admire the scenery. She always spoke fondly of a trip she and Dan took to Alaska, where nature’s beauty is in full scale and display. They owned a home on Kelly’s Island in Lake Erie during their younger days together and often enjoyed sailing during the warmer months. They eventually started traveling to the North Carolina shore of Cape Hatteras, first involving camping trips with the kids and later enjoying a beach house, which they bought. They would often travel for a couple of weeks during various parts of the summer to enjoy the beach and the natural scenery of the coastline. She especially loved the Christmas season when she could show off her collection of Santas she adored. Her greatest pride, however, was that of her family and the many cats and dogs she cared for over the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John “Dan” Gray, in 2007; one granddaughter, Jenny Gray; her parents, Arthur and Edith Bennett; and three brothers, Wesley, Harold, and Donald Bennett. She is survived by four sons, Richard (Suzy) Gray, Michael Gray, Christopher (Paige) Gray, and Dennis (Susan) Gray; three daughters, Susan Gipson, Kathy (Brad) Whaley, and Amy (Peter Walker) Gray; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Noon Saturday, December 31, at Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville, beginning with an Eastern Star service. Burial will be in Miami Cemetery, Corwin. The family will receive friends 10 AM - Noon Saturday at the funeral home. If desired, contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420 or the Ohio Masonic Home, 2655 West National Road, Springfield, OH 45504. Condolences at www.stubbsconner.com.
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