Paul Gray's Obituary
Paul Leonard Gray, (Lt. Col. U.S. A. F. ret.) age 80, of The Villages, passed away Tuesday, September 15, 2009. Mr. Gray moved to the area in 2009 from Lake Panasoffkee. He was a U. S. Air Force Fighter Pilot that was a trainer and flew missions also. His favorite plane was the F-86 Sabre Jet. He served at the Pentagon, and flew bomb damage assessment flights over the jungle of Vietnam out of Thailand. While on active duty he attended the University of Michigan for an MBA, and Auburn University for a Master's in Forestry. Mr. Gray developed a Boy Scout Reserve near Eglin Air Force Base. He was a member of the Callimachus Masonic Lodge in the State of New York. Upon retirement he was a member of the Retired Officers Association. He became an I A and A &P to continue airplane inspections and teach flying. He completed a life long desire when he built his own plane. He had registered tree farms in Kentucky and Texas where he raised Christmas, Pecan and Walnut trees. He was avid down hill snow skier. He is preceded in death by two sons, Mark Paul and Larry Paul Gray. He is survived by his wife Sarah, two sons Kris Michael and James David, one daughter Mari Gray Protzman, one sister Nancy Gray Gee, eight grandchildren and his father-in-law Lt.Col. (U.S.A.F. ret.) Harry Griffin of Cookeville, TN. Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 17, 2009, at Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2009 at Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Chapel with burial to follow at Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, Fl.
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