Born April 17, 1911 in Birds Nest North Hampton, Virginia; he was the son of the late Kirby Hood Nottingham and Myrtle Trenada Muse.
Gray is preceded in death by his wife Frances Tschop; one son, David Allen Nottingham; and one daughter, Mary Louise Nottingham.
He is survived by one daughter, Carol Grey Nottingham; one brother, Bobby Nottingham; one sister, Jeanette Barthmaier; one grandson, Shannon Nottingham and his wife Tracey; and two great grandchildren, Justin and Jordon Nottingham.
Visitation will be held at the LDS Church at 343 Carriage Dr. Harpers Ferry, WV from 12pm to 2pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013. Funeral services will follow at 2pm.
Interment will follow at Rosedale Cemetery in Martinsburg, WV with military rites.
Life Sketch of Gray Nottingham
— Born April 17, 1911 on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in Birdsnest, Virginia
— Parents: Kirby Hood and Mrytle Muse Nottingham
— Gray was the oldest of 15 children; 5 of his siblings did not live past childbirth
o Gray (oldest)
o A.J. (deceased)
o Kirby Jr (deceased)
o Billy (deceased)
o Bobby (lives in Las Vegas)
o Evelyn (deceased)
o Lilian (deceased)
o Jeannette (lives in Doylestown, PA)
o Jackie (deceased)
— Gray was a premature baby and was cared for by a faithful Nanny (name unknown) until he was four years old when his parents decided to resume taking care of him. He was born in his home and the doctor did not make it to their home before his father had to deliver the him. Gray did not breathe immediately and his parents thought that he was dead, but when the doctor arrived at their home he discovered that he was still alive. The Nanny knew how to take care of a premature baby and helped the Nottingham’s for the first several years of Gray’s life.
— Their family lived on the Eastern shore before moving to Salisbury, VA where Gray stayed until he went to the military to serve in the Navy during WWII.
— As a boy, Gray had his own row boat and loved to go into the lake and fish and row his boat.
— After high school Gray worked with the Civilian Conservation Core and worked at the Beltsville Agricultural Center until he started working for the railroad, working for a shipping agency called the United Fruit Growers, where he clerked for many years before retiring in 1976.
— Gray was drafted in World War II and served for approximately three years. He was a Navy Seabee and built runways and ports during war time. Gray went in after the bomb at Hiroshima to assess damage after the nuclear bomb was dropped by the United States.
— Soon after the war Gray was eating dinner at his sister’s house when he met Frances Romaine Tschop. They were married on February 16, 1946 after the war.
— They had three children: David Allan and Mary Louise, who have passed away, and Carol Grey who lives in Harpers Ferry.
— Gray loved to camp and had a camping spot in Harpers Ferry West Virginia, that they would come to from their home in Mt. Rainer, where they lived while he was working for the railroad. They loved to come camping there on the weekends.
— After Gray retired they sold their home in Mt. Rainer and moved to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia on the old campsite where they camped. The campground sold plots/or campsites to put mobile homes. Gray loved living on the mountain and had a great appreciation for the outdoors.
— After moving to DC Gray would take Frances to the Amtrak Station in Harpers Ferry everyday to ride to DC to continue her job at the General Printing Office. After they both retied they enjoyed visiting restaurants owned by friends In the Harpers Ferry area.
— After moving to Harpers Ferry, WV, Gray and Frances joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in March of 2001 and were sealed in the Washington, DC LDS Temple in December 2002.
— Soon after they moved to West Virginia their Gray’s daughter and son Shannon moved in with them. Soon after they moved in with Gray and Frances, Carol was involved in a motorcycle accident leaving her permanently disabled.
— Gray and Frances faithfully took care of Carol and raised Shannon as one of their own children.
— Gray lived in Harpers Ferry area from approximately 1976 until he passed away this year.
— Gray was loved by all. He loved music (classical) and had the hobby of sewing with his wife Frances. Their Grandson Shannon remembers wearing clothes that his Grandpa made for him.
— At the time of Gray’s passing he was living with his daughter Carol and her son Shannon and his wife Tracy and their two children Justin and Jordan.
— Up until the Friday before his passing Gray made lunches for his Grandson. Faithfully for many years Gray would make his meals. Shannon says he was spoiled by his Grandfather.
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