- Date Of Birth: March 1, 1926
- Date Of Death: December 6, 2019
- State: Illinois
Fred was born on March 1, 1926 in Rockford to Fred and Geneva (Hart) Gray. He married Mary Elizabeth Geiger of Ottawa on June 28, 1952 in Las Vegas. She passed away on March 19, 2011.
Fred was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School, Northern Illinois University, where he received his teaching degree, and the University of North Dakota, where he received his degree in Engineering. He was a life-long member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, the First Congregational Church in Ottawa, Ottawa Elks Lodge, Ottawa VFW, and Occidental Lodge 40 A.F. and A.M.
After college, Fred started as a school teacher and track coach at Hall High School, and Ottawa High School. He then joined the U.S. Air Force, serving more than 26 years, attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. While serving as a pilot in Korea, he was credited with downing two enemy aircraft. As a pilot in Vietnam, his unit rescued numerous downed airmen out of North Vietnam, under the infamous call-sign “SANDY 01”. His last assignment was serving as a commander of NATO’s 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron, “The Flying Tigers” out of RAF Upper Heyford, England.
His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Meritorious Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citations (2), Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (2), Combat Readiness Medal, Korean Service Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Korean Presidential Unit Citation and United Nations Service Medal.
Upon retiring from the Air Force, Fred returned to Ottawa where he owned and operated the Thrift-T-Nickel Newspaper and Gray Printing for many years.
He is survived by three children, Kevin (Marie) Gray of Marseilles, Steven (Jody) Gray, of Ottawa, and Susan Gray of Wilmington, NC; six grandchildren, Michael (Kay), Benjamin (Jessica), Alex, Andrew, Sara (Eddie) Durdan, and Steven Carlson; seven great-grandchildren, Connor, Charlotte, Eli, Liam, Weslee, Garrett, and Edward; and one sister, Alice Klavanian.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; sisters, Lorraine Abner, Ruth Ledbetter; brother Clyde Gray; and cousin Harold “Hal” Gray.
