Lawrence "Larry" E. Gray

Bristol, Va. Lawrence E. “Larry” Gray, 84, went to join his wife, Louise Marie Buczynski, seven months after her passing, on Monday, December 3, 2018.  Larry was born in Erie, Penn. and grew up in Lawrence Park. He lived in several places before settling in Bristol, Va. 40 years ago.   

Larry had a lengthy and distinguished career as a mechanical engineer and manager, beginning at General Electric (GE) in Erie, Pa.., then relocating to GE in DeKalb, Ill., and raising a family in Sycamore, Ill. for 18 years. Larry then relocated to Audubon, Pa.., working for GE Aerospace Division in King of Prussia, after which he transferred to Bristol, Va. as an employee of GE/Sandvick Rock Tools and GE/Baker Hughes Division, from which he retired. While employed by GE, Larry designed and patented two turbine engines.   

After making Bristol home, Larry and Louise were very active socially and volunteered their time in the community.  They were active members of St. Anne’s Catholic Church, and Larry was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus.   

Larry’s greatest pleasure was spending time with his family boating on South Holston Lake, hosting the family vacation for 40 years on Emerald Isle, N.C., and any other activity that joined him with his beloved family.   He will be remembered for his marvelous sense of humor and heart full of love. 

In addition to his wife, Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Wallace Lester Gray and Mabel Brechtel Gray; and brother, Thomas Ronald Gray. 

He is survived by his adoring family which include his three daughters, Valerie Gray Durkin and her husband Shane of North Potomac, Md., Cindy Rockett and her husband Bob of Bristol, Va., and Janice Achey and her husband Mike of Lower Bank, N.J.; son, Rob Gray of Johnson City, Tenn.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren:  Joy Rockett Hull, her husband Clint and their three daughters, Reagan, Berkley, and Lydia; Donn Rockett; Brendon Achey, his wife Melissa and their son, Samuel; Grant Achey and his wife, Dana; Lawrence Achey and his friend Jenna Allman; Tessa Durkin Villavicencio and her husband Zach; and Julianne Volatile, her  husband Cliff and their son, Benjamin.  Special thanks are extended to Larry’s recent caregivers, Carrissa Poe and Mary Shepperd. 

Visitation will be held 12:00-1:00 p.m. Friday, December 7, 2018 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church on Euclid Avenue in Bristol, Va.   A Funeral Mass will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Father Christopher Hess officiating. Entombment will be held in the church mausoleum with Donn Rockett, Brendon Achey, Grant Achey, Lawrence Achey, Zach Villavicencio, Cliff Volatile, and Clint Hull Serving as pallbearers.   

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to Crossroads Medical Mission, PO Box 16852, Bristol, VA 24209-6852. 

Those wishing to share memories and express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. The family of Lawrence E. “Larry” Gray is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276) 623-2700. 

“He was a good egg.”