Robert Gray

GRAY, Robert……

It is with profound sadness, the family of Robert Ronald Gray announces his death. Bob died on May 29th 2026 due to complications from a prolonged hospital stay. Bob was in his 84th year and was preceded in death by his parents, Marty (1986) and Helen (2008), and brother, Glen (2004). He is survived by his beloved wife Donna, and loving children Robert, Lisa, and Brooks, son and daughters-in-law Jon, Vanessa, and Paula, sister-in-law Kathie, and grandchildren, Paige, Owen, Spencer and Marcus. Bob is also mourned by Richard (Rick) Smith who has been a cherished friend since elementary school. Bob was born August 26, 1942 in London, Ontario and spent his formative years in Byron. He attended Byron Northview and Beal Secondary School. He met his love Donna in 1959, and they later wed in 1964 and started out married life in Komoka, later settling in London. They had three children, Robert (‘65), Lisa (‘66) and Brooks (‘75). In his earliest working days, Bob worked for Supertest, the Toronto Star, and Simpsons Contracting followed by a number of years as a sales rep for Crossley-Karastan. He eventually landed in car sales where he enjoyed a very successful career working for Airport Nissan, Westgate Honda, Toyotatown and Competition Toyota, retiring from there in 2007. Bob had many loyal devoted customers over the years. In fact, some bought many cars from him, changing car brands when Bob changed dealerships. Like his mother Helen, Bob was a faithful crossword puzzler enjoying the London Free Press daily puzzle or puzzle books provided by thoughtful friend Cindy. He continued to enjoy a puzzle or two with his daughter Lisa in his last days at the hospital. Bob loved to ski and enjoyed regular excursions to Chicopee and Caledon ski clubs among many others. There were many ski trips further afield with friends and family to Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, NY, various resorts in BC, as well as the ski trips Bob and Donna took to visit dear friends Rob and Del in Lake Tahoe. In summer, Bob enjoyed golfing, but perhaps his favourite pastime was going for a “little spin” on his Honda Shadow motorcycle or his BMW convertible. He’d often head out to watch the deer in the countryside at dusk, to Port Stanley (“to get the cheap gas”) or through his hometown of Byron, passing a few key spots along the way in hopes of waving to some of his friends, old and new. Lunch with “the boys” on Friday had been a long-held ritual with weekly rotations between the Runt Club, Tasting Room and Tiger Jacks, where Dorothy was a favourite server. Bob had been a long term member of the London City Press club until its closing in 2013, making many friends and acquaintances. In recent years, he regularly enjoyed a hotdog at the Delaware Legion and of course, loved chatting with pals over his 1/2 pint of beer and “chewies” at his favourite neighbourhood haunt, “The Wort” aka The Wortley Roadhouse. Bob spent many summers with his wife Donna visiting Rob and Paula in Calgary and Crows Nest Pass, Alberta. Lots of time was also spent over the years with family at Port Franks, Ipperwash, Kettle Point (at Uncle Glennie’s beloved trailer) and more recently, cottaging in Port Stanley with Brooks, Vanessa, Spencer and Marcus. Bob and Donna covered a lot of ground with numerous vacations over the years to Florida, Chicago, Bar Harbor, Finger Lakes, Cuba, Hawaii, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Portugal and New Zealand. Bob always had a friendly smile for everyone. He didn’t care what you did, where you were from, or how you dressed – only that you were a decent person. He would always refer to the people he cared about by saying, “He’s a good guy (or gal)”. He never talked about himself, instead always asking others about themselves and how they were doing. When meeting someone new, he was eager to break the ice with a joke or play on words. This continued until his last days, putting a smile on the face of nurses and hospital staff with one-liners and puns. Thanks to all the hard-working nurses, PSWs and physiotherapists who provided excellent care to Bob. A private family memorial has taken place. A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held in August. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Dying with Dignity Canada. Arrangements entrusted with Cremation London & Middlesex, 519-858-2467. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.cremationlondon.com