PRESTON GRAY, 91, of Hingham, formerly of Scituate and Hull, died on Sunday, April 13th, 2008 at the Colonial Nursing Center in Weymouth. Mr. Gray was born in Hull and was raised in Brookline. He attended Rivers Country Day School in Brookline and was captain of both the football and hockey teams in his senior year. He also attended the University of Maine and the New England Aircraft School. In the 1930's he served as a launchman at the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club and was on the club's swimming and tennis teams. During the World War II years, he went to work for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Co. in Hartford, CT and was involved in the secret development of the R2800 aircraft engine that was eventually fitted on Howard Hughes' plane the "Spruce Goose." In 1948 he worked for United Car Co. in Cambridge and shortly after he started Gray Industries in North Scituate, selling and servicing MG's and other sports cars. In more recent years, he was a service manager for Toyota of Weymouth and Anderson Toyota in Middleboro until his retirement. He loved hockey and played locally until he was well into his 70's.
Mr. Gray was a resident of Scituate for many years and built a 3 story lighthouse of brick at his Third Cliff home. He then resided in Humarock and later in Plymouth before coming to Hingham.
Husband of the late Sherley (Morrison) Gray, leaves his two sons; Preston Gray, Jr. of Windham, ME and Robert W. Gray of Hingham. Brother of Neal Gray of North Scituate and the late Bettina Liscomb. Also survived by his grandchildren, Heather Gray of Arizona and Robert W. Gray, Jr. of Hingham.
A Memorial Service will be conducted on Friday, April 18th at 11 AM at the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond St., Hingham. Visiting hours and flowers omitted by request. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115.
The interment is private