Luke David Chapman "David" Gray

1928 - 2016  (88 years)

• Name	Luke David Chapman "David" Gray
  Born	13 Mar 1928  [1]
  Gender	Male
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-439723
  Died	1 Jul 2016	Waterloo Region, Ontario
  Buried	Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I439723	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Family	Anne Joyce "Joyce" Fleming,   b. 1 May 1932,   d. 19 Feb 2013, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F278068	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  GRAY, Luke "David" Chapman Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family in his home, on Friday, July 1, 2016, at the age of 88. Predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, Anne "Joyce" (2013). Cherished father of Susan "Jennifer" Gray Charnoe (Late husband Zeera P. Charnoe), David "Ted" Gray (Kathryn) and Luke "George" Mark Gray (Maria Kondor). Beloved grandpa to Hillary and Tyler Gray and Lilla Kondor. David will also be missed by many step-grandchildren and other family and friends. Known as unpretentious, honest, unwilling to ever sell out to the United States, extremely gentlemanly, helpful, a man filled with fairness and integrity, it was only fitting that David would pass away on July 1st, Canada Day. David wanted to experience the world, experience life, as a single man, before getting married and having a family. As a lover of nature and natural beauty, with a deep interest in ports and large ships, when he did have a family, he and Joyce made sure that they took their children on lengthy camping trips, both to the east and west coasts of Canada, to experience and appreciate its beauty and history. These trips are forever in our hearts. David and Joyce flew to Europe numerous times, for business and to visit family, and enjoyed a number of cruises, including the Caribbean and to Alaska. David worked and lived in many places in Michigan and Canada. He was a machinist and a registered Tool and Die Maker. He was a designer and inventor, involved in much custom work, designing and research. Of historical significance for Canada, David worked as a machinist, for three years, on the development of the Avro Arrow, the post World War II, atomic age, "great Canadian Cold War combat jet". He was a long-time member of the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Canada. David and Joyce met through mutual friends, in Buffalo, USA, and were married in Galt on October 29, 1955, living first in Scarborough with his parents, and then moving to Galt to live with Joyce's parents. They purchased a wood panel trimmed home on three acres outside of Galt, where David planted thousands of trees. The detached garage was transported to the neighbours' place, the house was turned around 180 degrees, a basement was dug and the house rolled back in place, with new brick and an attached garage. David's last place of work would be Galt (Cambridge), where he worked full-time for about 47 years, until almost 80 years of age. Initially, David moved to Galt to work at Fleming Motors Ltd. with his ailing father-in-law. "Eddie" was the inventor of one of the first electric cars called the "Galt", built in 1914, now on exhibit at the Oshawa automobile museum. David bought "Eddie's" business and became the founder and owner of Fleming Gray Limited. David was invited to exhibit in many countries; his paint shakers and skate sharpeners were known the world over as the best in their product line. In 1984, his company was one of the first 25 Canadian companies invited to exhibit in Hong Kong. This allowed the first business relationships to flow between Canada and China. Poised to always help people wherever he could, he hired skilled and unskilled workers alike, willing to invest in their training. His children began to join him from an early age, with little tasks he would bring home, or later, as teenagers, on site. David was a Free-Mason for 61 years, and received his 60 year pin, in 2014. He supported two local lodges, Alma and Concord. In the 1960's, he was the Head Master of Alma Lodge for one year. David and Joyce were members of Trinity Anglican Church, Cambridge and its Couple's Club for more than 40 years. David sponsored and supported the Fleming Gray Male Chorus for about three decades. His mother-in-law Laura, helped to sustain this. There was also a Fleming Gray bowling league. David loved to bowl and was very good at his game. David's grandfather purchased acreage around Bolger Lake, near Parry Sound, Ontario. It was an arduous trip in and out, for human or for supplies, by whatever means available: car, 4WD, boat, train, snowmobile, sea plane, even walking the train tracks. David loved the cottage where he could build and sail. He spent as much time there as was possible. With help from his family, he built a cabin and then a cottage on his 11 acre portion. It was his dream to make this place a welcoming refuge for all family and friends. Many a summer day was spent building, repairing and using his cottage and others' cottages and the equipment and transport vessels. Many an evening was spent playing cards especially euchre, by generator light or gas lamp, with loons calling from the lake. David had two loves in his life. Joyce and David were devoted to each other for 57 years. For the last eight years, David has also been devoted to his beloved cat "Jade", an eleven year old stray whose temperament and disposition sustained him after he lost Joyce in 2013. Family and friends will be received at T. LITTLE FUNERAL HOME. Cambridge Times 4 Jul 2016

  
  

• Sources

  [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link . GRAY/ In Loving Memory/ Anne Joyce FLEMING/ May 01, 1932 - Feb. 19, 2013/ Luke David CHAPMAN/ Mar. 13, 1928 - /

  
  

• Event Map

  Died - 1 Jul 2016 - Waterloo Region, Ontario Buried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth