Freddy Gene Gray, Sr.

Freddy Gene Gray, Sr., 86, died peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2025, following heart failure. He was born November 13, 1938, to Florence Bishop Gray and Willie Gray, grew up in Mt. Airy, N.C., and graduated from Mt. Airy High School. Each Sunday Freddy drove his grandfather William Bishop to church, where he met Linda Jessup. On October 11, 1958, they eloped to South Carolina. Freddy and Linda Gray’s marriage lasted more than 66 years, until Freddy’s death. Together they weathered his military service; his many motorcycle, car and plane accidents; his dementia; and the raising of three children, each beloved, and each trouble in a different way. After serving in the Army, Freddy learned to fly small planes. Through his company, Virginia-Carolina Aviation, he ran the Twin County Airport in Hillsville, Va.; repaired, inspected, painted, and bought and sold planes; and taught flying. At the airports, he proudly displayed his students’ shirttails, which by custom were cut off, signed and dated after solo flights. He also taught auto mechanics for decades at North Surry High School. Many of the area’s car-repair professionals will remember Mr. Gray’s wooden paddle. He was preceded in death by his parents, Florence Bishop Gray and Willie Edward Gray; his infant brother Willie Edward Gray, Jr.; his brother-in-law Larry Eades; and his close cousin Oceale Bishop. Besides his wife Linda, he is survived by their children: Lisa Gray (Randall Patterson), Sheila Gray (Scott Kirkpatrick), and Freddy Gray, Jr. And also by Freddy and Linda’s grandchildren: Mary Jo Gray and Ben Havlak; Jenna Gray; Sarah Kirkpatrick (Dylan Constantine), Jessica Kirkpatrick Tyndall (Matthew), and Lauren Kirkpatrick. Other survivors include his siblings: Glen Edward “Eddy” Gray (Bonnie); Sarah Eades Penley (Jake); and Pamela “Pam” Gray Edmondson (Mike), and Max, the Boston terrier that sometimes howled along with Freddy, late at night, to country music. Visitation will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at Moody Funeral Home in Mt. Airy, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will follow at Skyline Memory Garden.