Obituary
Richard A. “Dick” Gray
Dick Gray, 82, loving husband of Jo Ann (Rice) of 62 years, passed away peacefully on April 2,
2022, following complications from a long battle with COPD.
Born in Hammond, Indiana in 1939, he attended Wilson Elementary, Edison Junior High and
Hammond High School until his family moved to Danville, Illinois. Dick graduated from Danville
High School and Danville Junior College.Dick married Jo Ann Rice in Danville in 1959, and they moved north where Dick worked for
Universal Atlas/Lehigh Cement Company (Gary, IN), a division of US Steel, as a Research Lab
Technician for 30 years. Active in his local union, he was elected President of the Office &
Technical Workers USWA Local 3443 and was proud to serve the members for six years in the
70’s. Dick and Jo Ann lived in Munster, Indiana from 1960-1990 raising three daughters, Toni, Leslie,
and René, all graduates of Munster High School.
Among his many interests and hobbies, Dick enjoyed sports, travel and local politics most. In
the 1970’s he coached his daughters’ softball teams and served as a softball umpire throughout
Lake County. An avid “scratch” golfer he played almost every weekend with his buddies at
Wicker Park. Our family enjoyed many summer road trip vacations together and one of the
best was the summer of 1971 when Dick, Jo Ann and the girls set out for six weeks to discover
the west. We visited every National Park and tourist attraction between Chicago and Seattle
then south to Oregon, California, Mexico and back through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska,
and Iowa. Dick and Jo Ann captured this entire vacation in snap shots and 8mm film which we
converted to DVD’s many years ago to keep the memories. Dick & Jo Ann also traveled
throughout the Caribbean Islands for many years. A passionate man of the sea, Dick enjoyed
sailing, scuba diving and fishing while in the tropics and in Florida. Dick happily volunteered as
the local Precinct Democratic Committee Chairman in the late 70’s working with many of our
neighbors and friends in Munster to register voters and represent Lake County at various
political events.
Fortunate to fully retire after 30 years from Lehigh in 1990, Dick & Jo moved to Deep Creek in
Port Charlotte, Florida, building a new home for hosting and entertaining northern family and
friends. Dick played 18 with his Florida friends EVERY day and maybe another 9 in the
afternoon with Jo Ann.
In 2004, Dick & Jo Ann downsized and moved to Ocala, Florida finding their current home in the
“55 & Over” On Top of the World Community. His daily golf matches with his new Ocala
buddies continued until 2019 when COPD prevented him from playing. Dick was one of the
RARE retirement stories of a guy who was fortunate to be retired for more years than he
worked!
Dick is survived by his wife Jo Ann, daughters Toni of Bloomington, Indiana; Leslie of Irvine,
California; René Mayginnes (Kyle) of Washington, Illinois; four grandchildren and two great
grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dick’s name to the wonderfully compassionate
hospice facility Cates House in Ocala, FL where Dick was cared for during his final days. The
address is: Hospice of Marion County, 3231 SW 34th Ave., Ocala, FL 34474.
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