COLONEL (RET) WALTER L. GRAY, SR of Gaithersburg, Maryland, passed away suddenly on Sunday, 4 April 2021, at his home with his wife by his side. Walter was born on 29 November 1943. He is preceded in death by his father Allen Gray and brother Barry M. Gray. Col. Gray attended Jones High School in Orlando, Florida and received his Bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University (formerly Tuskegee Institute) in Tuskegee, Alabama and his Master’s Degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, being the second black to graduate and receive a degree in City Planning and Noise Management. After graduating from Tuskegee Institute, Walter was commissioned to the United States Air Force (USAF) in May 1966 as a second lieutenant. Following an impressive and distinguished career in the United States Air Force spanning 28 years, including Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona; Chief Program Development/Acting Base Civil Engineer at Thule Air Force Base, Greenland, Squadron Section Commander 86th Civil engineering Squadron, Ramstein AFB Germany; Deputy Director, Facility Requirement and Resources, Department of Defense (DOD) at the Pentagon, Washington, DC; Commander, 56th Civil Engineering Squadron, Mac Dill AFB, Tampa, Fla; Director of Engineering and Base Civil Engineer, Bolling Air Force Base; Base Commander of Einsiedlerhof Air Station Germany, etc. Following retirement in February 1993, Walter pursued a successful career at the George Washington University, Washington, D.C., from 1993 to 2005, as the Director of Facilities Management. Walter was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Dr. Paulette S. Gray; his mother Gwendolyn J. Gray; sons Walter L Gray, Jr. (Jeanette) and Daniel A. Gray; grandson Walter L. Gray, III; granddaughters DeAnna Y. Gray, Niya A. Gray, and Ashley D. Gray; brother James H. Jones; sisters-in-law Maxicina Gray (Barry) and Marlease H. Cole (Tony); and, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the American Heart Association http://www2.heart.org/goto/walterlgraysr. Service Tuesday, 13 April 2021 1:00 P.M Viers Mill Baptist Church 12221 Veirs Mill Rd. Silver Spring, MD 20906 Rev. Emmanuel Jean-Philipe, Senior Pastor Officiating & Eulogist Interment with Military Honors Arlington National Cemetery Date and time to be determined. Final Services Entrusted To: Pumphrey Funeral Home 300 W. Montgomery Ave. Rockville, MD 20850