John E Spray
December 6, 1919 — October 23, 2010
A funeral service celebrating the life of John E. Spray, Sr., 90, of Newark, formerly of Granville, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at the McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect St., Granville with Rev. Jeffrey Perry officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville with military honors provided by the Licking County Veteran's Alliance.
John was born in Troy, West Virginia to the late Ellsworth R. and Myrtle M. (Bode) Spray on December 6, 1919. He died Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Flint Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Newark.
John was a 1937 graduate of Granville High School. During WWII, John served in the South Pacific with the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was employed over 30 years at Owens Corning Fiberglas as a machinist and was a 50 year member of the International Association of Machinists'. He was also a member of Granville Fellowship, Granville Conservation Club, the Granville Grange, a 50 year member of the Knights of Pythias and American Legion Post #85.
An avid card player, John especially enjoyed Poker, Pinochle, Bridge, Canasta and Thirteen. He also enjoyed family times with his wife, children, grandchildren and his sisters, nieces and nephews.
Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Alice (Gage) Spray, whom he married September 18, 1943; sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Daniel Spray of Dublin, Timothy and Teri Spray of Westerville, Richard and Linda Spray of Blacklick; daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Glenn Deweese of Newark; grandchildren, Brett and Angie Deweese, Julie and Tony Shonebarger, Christie Hammond, Kyle and Breana Spray; four step-grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters; Grace Walters, Violet Postle, Sybil Robertson, and sister and brother in law Elinor Jean and Carl Landis and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by one son, John E. Spray, Jr. who died September 13, 1991; one sister, Mildred Parker and one brother Richard L. Spray.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2010 at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com
Memorial contributions may be made in John's memory to Granville Fellowship, P.O.Box 257, Granville, Ohio 43023 or to Hospice of Central Foundation, P.O. Box 430, Newark, Ohio 43058, or Faith United Methodist Church, 261 East Main Street, Newark, Ohio, 43055.