Obituary of Robert C. Gray
Robert "Bob" C. Gray, 82, of Warren Township, New Jersey, passed away on Friday, June 9, 2023. Born in Dunellen in 1940, Bob was a devoted husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, and friend.
Bob, in 1958, graduated from St. Peter the Apostle High School in New Brunswick. He went on to work for the Art Color Printing Company in Dunellen for several years. A passion for helping others, however, called him to become a law enforcement officer for the Dunellen Police Department, where he served from 1963 to 1985. He served in a variety of capacities, from "special police officer" to sergeant.
Simultaneously, Bob, in 1969, began working as assistant foreman of the production department for Dow Jones in Princeton, N.J. He retired in 2005.
Bob and his wife, June Anne, married on Sept. 18, 1993. This September, they would've been married for 30 years. They also made Warren Township their home for nearly three decades.
Bob, in his younger years, enjoyed trips on his three motorcycles. Throughout the past several years, Bob and June spent many warmer months traveling to such places as Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Bob additionally enjoyed taking in fall foliage on weekend trips to Pennsylvania.
Bob was an active member of Our Lady of the Mount Roman Catholic Church in Warren and a devout parishioner of St. Mary's Stony-Hill in Watchung. At Our Lady of the Mount, Bob served as head usher, with his wife, June, and also served as hall monitor during CCD classes.
Bob became a chartered member of The Knights of Columbus Father Russell Council #11409, where he served as membership chairman, deputy grand knight, and later, grand knight. Additionally, he served as district warden and district deputy for the Knights of Columbus District No. 64, as well as served as Sergeant-at-Arms in Chapter 4.
In his retirement years, Bob often said he got to finally experience a joy he never felt before. It came with his grandchildren. He enjoyed taking them to car shows, the diner, the park, or watching endless cartoons of their choice. Bob never missed his grandson's Little League games, granddaughter's dance recitals, or their birthday parties.
Bob was always front and center. Perhaps above it all, he was a patient person. He knew life was short, and he lived. He took it all in graciously.
Bob was predeceased by his parents, Christopher and Regina (Andrews) Gray, and his brother, Kenneth Gray.
He is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, June Anne. Bob also leaves behind a brother, Richard Gray; his son, Robert "Bobby" Gray and his wife, Fran, of North Carolina, and their children, Abigail and Owen; and stepchildren, Edward Sroka and his wife, Melissa, of Georgia; and their children, Mikayla and Alex; Lori (Sroka) Van der Voort and her husband, Paul, of Pennsylvania, and their children, Grace and Joe; and Pamela (Sroka) Holzmann and her husband, Christopher, of Pennsylvania, and their children, Jessica and Kevin.
All will miss him dearly.
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at St. Mary's-Stony Hill Roman Catholic Church, 225 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 19, 2023, at St. Mary's-Stony Hill Church. A private entombment will be held at Somerset Hills Memorial Park in Basking Ridge, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in Robert "Bob" C. Gray's name to St. Mary's-Stony Hill Church, 225 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ 07069.
