Laconia, N.H.-----Herbert W. Gray, 93, of 227 Ledges Drive, #301 Woodside, Taylor Community, died at Ledgeview, Taylor Community, on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Mr. Gray was born January 25, 1921 in North Andover, Mass., the son of the late Herbert and Grace (Woodcock)Gray. He grew up and attended public schools there through his junior year at Johnson High School. Moving to Lawrence, Mass., he attended and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1938 and attended Boston University, majoring in Journalism/Public Relations. He also attended Dartmouth College’s two-year summer Management Program and Brown University‘s three-year summer Management Program. He had been a resident of Laconia for twenty years.
During World War II, Mr. Gray served in the Canadian Army Le Regiment du Trois Rivieres from 1940-1941. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the 80th Bomb Squadron, flying anti-submarine duty out of Grenier Field, N.H., Dover Air Base, Delaware, Opa Locka Air Base, Miami, Florida and Marathon Island, Florida from 1941-1942 and served with the 2nd Airdrome Squadron, Alamagordo, N. M. in 1942, in Australia in 1942, New Guinea from 1943-1944 and in the Philippines & Ryukus from 1944-1945.
Mr. Gray had been employed at the YMCA as Boys Work Secretary and Camp Director at Camp Lawrence, Bear Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H. from 1952-1953. In 1953, he was employed as a teller at Suffolk Savings Bank for Seamen and Others. He was Branch Manager of the Suffolk Franklin Savings and in 1956, Treasurer in 1964, President in 1967 and CEO in 1973. From 1981-1984, he was Chairman and CEO of the Mutual Bank of Boston.
Mr. Gray was President of the Savings Banks Association of Massachusetts from 1978-1979 and was Chairman of the National Association of Mutual Savings Bank from 1982-1983. He was Chair for the Center for Financial Studies, Fairfield University, 1980-1984 and was a member and Chair of Trustees for the Lawrence General Hospital, Mass. from 1975-1986. He was a member and Chair of the Merrimack Valley YMCA Board of Managers from 1974-1983, a member and Chair for the YMCA Camping Services Board of Managers from 1963-1983 and was a member, Board of Directors, of the Investor’s Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Mass. from 1975-1985.
Mr. Gray was a member and Vestry at Saint James Episcopal Church in Laconia from 1986-1993, Warden from 1990-1993, Lay Reader and Lay Eucharistic Minister from 1985-2006 and Treasurer from 2002-2005. He also was Chair of the Woodside Council at the Taylor Community in Laconia, N.H. from 2009-2010, Woodside Representative to Taylor Forum from 2009-2011 and had been Chair of Forum since 2010. At the time of his death, Mr. Gray was serving his second term as Resident Trustee of the Taylor Community.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Janet (Haigh) Gray, of Laconia; three sons, David Gray and his wife, Roberta, of Concord, Stephen Gray and his wife, Carol, of Milford and Timothy Gray of Manchester; a daughter, Cynthia Smith of Manchester; six grandchildren, Rick Redman, Kristi Hedglin, David Gray, Ryan Smith, Joshua Smith and Emma Gray and five great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Gray was predeceased by a brother, Charles.
There will be no calling hours however friends may come a half hour prior to the service to pay their respects.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 11:00AM at Saint James Episcopal Church, 2238 Parade Road, Laconia, N.H. Rev. Tobias Nyatsambo, Rector of the Church, will officiate.
Burial, with military honors, will be held in the spring at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, N.H.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Heritage Fund of Saint James Episcopal Church, 2238 Parade Road, Laconia, N.H 03246 or to the Episcopal Relief and Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.