Obituaries / LJWorld.com

Obituaries

Military Graveside services for Harold Mathew Wray, 93, Lawrence, KS, will be held at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence. He died on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at his home.
Harold was born on September 17, 1919 in Oskaloosa, KS the son of Floyd H. and Leah (Black) Wray.
He attended grades 1-4 in Fairview Rural a one room school; Oskaloosa schools from grades 5 – 11 and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1936. He attended the University of Kansas from 1936 to 1941, graduating in 1941 with a degree in Business.
He served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WW II. He served in Jefferson Barracks, MO, Atlantic City, NJ, Washington, DC, Greenboro, NC, Italy, and Trinidad BWI. He was released from active duty in October 1945 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He stayed in the Reserves for 27 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church since 1957, member of the Jayhawk Chapter MOAA, life member of the KU Alumni Association, member of Gold Medal club, Member of Lawrence Memorial Hospital Auxiliary where he volunteered for more than 10 years. He was also a member of the National American Legion.
He began working as a Pay Master at the General Motors, Leeds Plant from 1945 - 1947. He then co-owned the Chateau Drive- In in Lawrence with partner, Louis Kuhn from 1947 – 1952. From 1952 – 1955 he also partnered with Louis Kuhn and owned International Harvester Dealership. He then worked in the Computer Center for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Kansas City, MO from 1957 – 1979 when he retired.
He married Mary Frances Penisten on July 14, 1950 in Lawrence. She preceded him in death December 17, 2007.
Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Jo Dickerson; two sons, Michael Wray, Mark Wray; four grandchildren, Leslie Dickerson, Shannon, Brian, and Chris Wray; and one sister, Frieda Culbertson. He was also preceded in death by one sister, Emily; and two brothers, Paul and John Leland.
The family will greet friends on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
The family suggests memorials in his name to First Presbyterian Church and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.
Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.