Robert N. Gray

Robert N. Gray, 91, of Tiffin, has run his final race as the Lord called him to the finish line at 6:43 pm Saturday, May 23, 2020, at the Ohio Veterans Home, Sandusky.

He was born July 10, 1928, in Akron, Ohio, to Nelson Foster and Bessie (Cain) Gray.  He met Joan Goodwin, the love of his life, on Christmas morning, and they married July 7, 1950, in Akron.  Joan survives in Tiffin.

Also surviving are two daughters, Karen (Frank) Michniak of Tiffin, and Kim (Charles) Baer of Fairhope, Ala.; four grandchildren, Kay (Eric) Schleter of Tiffin, Chuck (Hilary) Baer of Tacoma, Wash., Kevin Baer of San Diego, Calif., and Gwenllian Baer of Atlanta, Ga.; three great granddaughters, Eleanor Baer, Matilda Baer, and Ellie Schleter; and one great grandchild on the way in December; two sisters, Sue Larson of Akron, and Mary Kay Thompson of Owensboro, Ky., and his close brother, Kenneth (Martha) Myles of Carmel, Ind.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Hea Lynn Gray, and a brother, William Myles.

Mr. Gray was a 1946 Akron Buchtel High School graduate, and was a 1951 graduate of Purdue University, majoring in engineering.  He then served in the US Navy as a commissioned lieutenant during the Korean War.  While serving in the Navy, they lived in Rhode Island and California.  They moved to Tiffin in 1961, and he worked at National Machinery Company as a sales engineer.  He was transferred to Connecticut as a sales manager until his retirement in 1988.  They then moved to Keowee Key, South Carolina.

Bob was known for his long distance running from his high school days until his 80's.  He ran marathons in Boston, Australia, the Marine Marathon in Washington, DC, and the Dead Sea Marathon in Israel.  To celebrate his 50th birthday he ran a marathon in Hawaii, the 50th state.  He always came in first in his age group.
Bob and Joan loved to travel, visiting all 50 states, river cruises in Europe, twice visiting the Holy Lands, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and family in Kentucky and Indiana.  Bob loved car races, building and competing in the Soap Box Derby as a young boy.  He especially loved to go to the Indy 500 with his brother, Ken.

Bob lead a faith-filled life, teaching Sunday school and community volunteering in the various places they lived.  He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ and the National Machinery Quarter Century Club.

Services will be 2 pm Saturday, June 13, 2020, at Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory.  Friends may call one hour prior to services.  Military rites will be conducted by the United Veterans Council at the conclusion of the service.  Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Akron.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, or Seneca County Humane Society.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe St., Tiffin, Ohio  44883 (419)447-3113.

To send condolences, go to www.traunerofuneralhome.com