Alvin Russell Gray Jr.

Russ passed away at 92 on December 2, 2023, at MultiCare Valley Hospital in Spokane Valley, WA, due to natural causes. He was born in Norristown, PA to Ruth Elizabeth Gray (Cooper) and Alvin Russell Gray, Sr. on June 28, 1931, one of three children. He graduated from Norristown High School in 1949 where he was also continually active in many sports. In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and during his four years of service, was part of a first and second squadron deployment in the Korean War, and fell in love to marry Joy Arlene Gray (Fouch) on April 3, 1954 at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Whidbey Island, WA. He was honorably discharged in 1955 when they then moved to the U.S. east coast, where, during their 13-year stay, their three children were born. In 1968 the family moved to Taipei, Taiwan and lived there for two years, where Russ worked as manager of the rectifier manufacturing department at General Instrument and Joy as an RN at the US Naval Hospital. Upon leaving Taipei, the family enjoyed a trip around the world, en route to their new home in Spokane, WA where Russ began his career at Clare-Pendar in Post Falls, ID and Joy as an RN at Valley General Hospital (which is now MultiCare Valley Hospital). When Clare-Pendar decided to shift its operations to Juarez, Mexico, Russ and family stayed in Spokane where he then joined Lippincott Industries. At Lippincott, he invented a Network Interface Device and became manager of that product line. Joslyn Electronic Systems Corp then purchased that product line, along with Russ being a part of the deal, and in 1989 he and Joy moved to Santa Barbara, CA. At Joslyn he served as President and CEO until retiring in 1994, when they then moved back to Washington to reside in Liberty Lake. Russ became a part-time consultant with Dana-Saad (who did NID housing that he invented at Lippincott) for 14 years. In 2010, after 56 years of a wonderful marriage, Joy sadly passed away and he lived alone for four years. In 2014, he met AJ Lennox at the Spokane Valley Methodist Church, and they enjoyed nearly ten years of companionship, singing in the church choir, and extensive travel. Throughout his life, Russ was an active member of the Methodist church; played multiple instruments including piano, accordion, trumpet, and baritone; taught piano lessons to his children; played various sports, with a passion for basketball, bowling, and golf; coached several youth sports teams; a Do-It-Yourselfer, constantly working on projects at home to maintain and enhance his family’s life; and, was extremely organized with a passion for preserving memories. With Joy and family, they relished many vacations, outings, and activities, as well as supported their children’s rock/pop band “Magic Touch”. Russ is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Beth (Tacoma, WA); daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Gary Anderson (Spokane, WA); son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Sharmistha (Dracut, MA); grandchildren Michelle, Shannon, Blake, Daniel, Samantha, Zachary, Anindita; great grandchildren Christian, Zoe, Hartley, Otis, Layla; and, brothers-in-law Jerry and Jay. A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for 3pm on February 18, 2024, at Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, with all welcome to attend.