Virgil P. Gray

Virgil P. Gray, 85, of 6885 W. Division Line Road, died at 2:45 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2006, at Home Hospital in Lafayette. He had been a patient there since Sept. 11, and ill with cancer since July.

Born in Pyrmont on June 17, 1921, he was the son of the late Morris and Bernice Latshaw Gray. He was a 1939 graduate of Rossville High School and a graduate of the Krannert Business School at Purdue University, with an insurance and estate planning certificate.

His marriage was to Beulah N. Miller in Flora on Jan. 18, 1942, and she survives. They owned and operated Gray's Turkey Farm for 42 years in the Delphi area, raising turkeys for meat production. Before that, he raised chickens and had a hatchery in Delphi for many years.

Mr. Gray was a member and deacon of the Jubilee Fellowship Church in Flora for more than 20 years, where he was on the call committee for birthdays and anniversaries. He was a member of the Gideon's International Carroll County Camp for several years, distributing Bibles at area universities and churches. He was also a member of the Poultry Association, and was an avid Chicago Cubs baseball fan.

Surviving with his wife are a daughter, Mona Mollat of Lafayette; two sons, Stephen V. Gray and Philip Gray (wife: Patricia), both of Delphi; a brother Kenneth Gray (wife: Mary Lu) of Rossville; eight grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren.

He loved his family very much and it showed in the way he treated all who knew him.

Services were Monday, with burial at Rossville Cemetery. Abbott Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Gideons. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.