Roland A. Gray

1915 - 2011  (95 years)

• Name	Roland A. Gray
  Birth	27 Aug 1915	Clay County, Kansas, United States
  Gender	Male
  _FGLINK	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69300656
  _FGRAVE	69300656
  Death	1 May 2011	Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
  	Rapid City- Roland Arlington Gray, age 95, of Rapid City, SD died on May 1, 2011 peacefully in his sleep at Bella Vista Nursing Home. He was born on August 27, 1915 to Lawrence and Agnes Gray in Clay County Kansas. He grew up in Kansas and graduated from Longford High School in 1934. He married Dorothy Beals on April 28, 1940. She preceded him in death on October 1, 1980. They had three sons, Terry, Ronald and Gilbert. He went to work for the US Army Air Force in 1942 at Salina, KS and was a civilian officer in the fire department at an Air Base there. He worked for the Air Force for 30 years except for one year in the US Navy from 1945-46. He transferred to Ellsworth AFB at Rapid City in 1949 where he worked until retirement. He was Fire Chief from 1966 until retirement in 1972. During this time he received several awards including the "Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service" signed by Secretary of the Air Force. He also received a Civilian Award for Valor and an Official Commendation for Courage by the US Air Force. He received the first "Well Done Award" given by the US Air Force for outstanding accomplishment in fire protection activities. He was a long time member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served as Elder, Deacon, Chairman of Christian Education, Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. Following his retirement from civilian service, he worked for the First National Bank of the Black Hills for several years. Roland married Genevieve Silver on February 9, 1982. She passed away March 16, 2010. Roland is survived by one sister, Iris Kuhlman and one brother, Joe Gray, both of Kansas and three sons, Terry Gray and wife Loma of Cincinnati, OH; Ronald Gray and wife Sharon of Grand Junction, CO; Gilbert Gray and wife Vicky of Rapid City, SD; stepdaughters Jean Downing and husband Terry of Redfield SD; Donna Silver-Miller and husband Steve of Rapid City; and Terri Wetsch and husband Larry of Rapid City; eight grandchildren, four step grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and three step great grandchildren. Roland was preceded in death by his first wife Dorothy, second wife Genevieve, one sister and four brothers. Visitation will be on Friday, May 6 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. A Memorial has been established for Westminster Presbyterian Church.
  Person ID	I41906	The Family History of Robert Duncan a Lanark Society Settler
  Last Modified	2 Jun 2023

  
  

  Family	Dorothy L. Beals,   b. 1 Aug 1920   d. 1 Oct 1980 (Age 60 years)
  Family ID	F14831	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 Jun 2023

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 27 Aug 1915 - Clay County, Kansas, United States  = Link to Google Earth