Wilburn Gray

Services for Mr. Wilburn Earl Gray, 82, Tyler, are scheduled for 2 p.m., Monday, February 17, 2020, at Bartley Funeral Home, Grand Saline. Interment will be in Creagleville Cemetery. Wilburn Gray passed away February 13, 2020, in Tyler. He was born June 10, 1937, in Grand Saline to George Edward & Margie Cleo Ballard Gray. Wilburn attended Grand Saline Schools and graduated from Grand Saline High School with the class of 1955. As he was about to become the first person from his family to attend college, he made the best decision of his life and married his high school sweetheart, Tommie Nell Bratton Gray. Together they traveled to Austin and in 1962 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He spent his early career working as an engineer for Eastman Kodak, Grace Chemical, and Howe Baker Engineering. In 1975, he decided to start his own business and Delgra-Almeg Inc. was created. He worked internationally for the next twelve years before retiring in 1987. Wilburn made a profession of faith in Austin in 1960. He attended Glenwood Church of Christ. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Edwin Shorty Gray; great granddaughter, Kaylee Johnson. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Tommie Nell Gray of Tyler; son, James Gray and wife Kim of Liberty City; three daughters, Liz Chandler and husband Vance of Lindale, Sherrie Gibbs and husband Dave of Danville, CA and Vicki Arrington and husband Jim of Dallas; nine grandsons, Alex Chandler, Jeremy Gray, Taylor Gray, Austin Gray, Collin Gray, Peyton Gibbs, Drew Arrington, Tyler Arrington, and Jett Arrington; five granddaughters, Melissa Johnson, Ashley Littles, Jessica Sulser, Brookelyn Gray, and Ainsley Gibbs, five great-grandchildren; nephew, Ronnie Gray and wife Jill of Grand Saline; niece, Patricia Elliott and husband Tom of Seven Lakes, NC; sister-in-law, Nadine Gray Mills of Grand Saline; and numerous other relatives and friends. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Creagleville Cemetery Association. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m., Sunday, February 16, 2020 at the funeral home.