GRAY JOE E

COL Joe E. Gray was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 09/11/2015 at the age of 85.8
Fort Worth, TX
Flight Classes 59-8FW and 62-5Q
Date of Birth 11/19/1929
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with D/229 AVN 1 CAV in 65-66
Call sign in Vietnam TIGER 32
This information was provided by Ed Faught, Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: Joe E. Gray, 85, a retired U.S. Army colonel and Bell Helicopter Textron employee, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, in Fort Worth. Memorials: charity of choice . Col. Joe E. Gray was born Nov. 19, 1929, in Lawrenceville, Ill. He attended secondary schools in Illinois, California and New Jersey, and received a bachelor of science degree from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and Theta Tau engineering fraternity. Col. Gray, a Corps of Engineers officer, retired after active and reserve duty career spanning 32 years. He served overseas tours in German, Libya, Iran, Central America and Vietnam as a member of the First Cavalry Division. Col. Gray was awarded the Bronze Star with V device, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal with 18 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, U.S. Army Reserve Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Government of Guatemala Honor al Merito Medal and the 2012 Congressional Veteran Commendation. Joe was a 2012 world record setter with the Masters of South Texas Relay Team in the 4-x-200 free relay. Col. Gray joined Bell Helicopter Textron in 1968 and held many marketing management positions during his 26 years working in Fort Worth, California and Singapore. He was instrumental in the introduction of the Bell models 212, 412, 222 and the 214ST. He retired in 1993. His most recent venture had been as the majority shareholder in Kachina Aviation of Boise, Idaho. He was an active member of Bear Valley Church in Colleyville and was involved in its single parent mentoring program. Col. Gray was an avid golfer, runner, swimmer, bicyclist, racquetball player, sailor and tennis player up to his death. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Leonard O. Gray in 1982 and E. Lucille Gray in 1996. Survivors: Wife, Edith Charlotte Gray; son, Douglas Frank Gray and his children, Kyle Matthew and Christopher Douglas; son and daughter-in-law, Bradley Wayne and Susan Ann Gray and their children, Kyle Wayne and Jessica Ann of Fort Worth; daughter and son-in-law, Shannon Beth Gray-Holmes and Mark Orrin Holmes of Fort Worth; and sister, Marilyn Jane Hooper of Birmingham, Ala.

Published in Star-Telegram on Sept. 27, 2015

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025