He was born on July 9, 1933, in Forsyth County to the late Melvin Sides and Lola Petree Beckner.
He attended Clemmons School and was a life-long member of Fraternity Church of the Brethren.
Gray served his country during the Korean Conflict as an ambulance driver in the Army from 1953 to 1955. Following his honorable discharge from the military, he worked in furnace repair for Modern Oil and Wachovia Oil Co., retiring after 45 years of service.
Upon his retirement, Papa spent many hours at his scroll saw, producing numerous pieces of fretwork that he gifted to family and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Virginia Beckner; brothers, L.J. Beckner and wife, Joye and Kenneth Beckner and wife, Lynn.
Mr. Beckner is survived by his son, Keith Beckner and wife, Cheryl of Winston-Salem; two granddaughters, Sarah Giles and husband, Cameron of Winston-Salem and Charlotte Beckner and fiancé, Sean McMullen of Boone, NC; one great-grandson, Parker Giles of Winston-Salem; step-great-grandchildren, Gavin and Liam Giles of Winston-Salem; one sister, Diann Sweet and Fred Hartledge of Winston-Salem; one brother, Henry Beckner of Winston-Salem; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nephews and great-nieces.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 7, 2017, at Fraternity Church of the Brethren with Pastor Paul Stutzman and Pastor Dave Kindy officiating.
Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel.
The family would like to thank the staff of Bermuda Village for their kindness and compassionate care they provided to Papa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Fraternity Church of the Brethren Cemetery Fund, 3760 Fraternity Church Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27127.
He was born on July 9, 1933, in Forsyth County to the late Melvin Sides and Lola Petree Beckner.
He attended Clemmons School and was a life-long member of Fraternity Church of the Brethren.
Gray served his country during the Korean Conflict as an ambulance driver in the Army from 1953 to 1955. Following his honorable discharge from the military, he worked in furnace repair for Modern Oil and Wachovia Oil Co., retiring after 45 years of service.
Upon his retirement, Papa spent many hours at his scroll saw, producing numerous pieces of fretwork that he gifted to family and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Virginia Beckner; brothers, L.J. Beckner and wife, Joye and Kenneth Beckner and wife, Lynn.
Mr. Beckner is survived by his son, Keith Beckner and wife, Cheryl of Winston-Salem; two granddaughters, Sarah Giles and husband, Cameron of Winston-Salem and Charlotte Beckner and fiancé, Sean McMullen of Boone, NC; one great-grandson, Parker Giles of Winston-Salem; step-great-grandchildren, Gavin and Liam Giles of Winston-Salem; one sister, Diann Sweet and Fred Hartledge of Winston-Salem; one brother, Henry Beckner of Winston-Salem; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nephews and great-nieces.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 7, 2017, at Fraternity Church of the Brethren with Pastor Paul Stutzman and Pastor Dave Kindy officiating.
Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel.
The family would like to thank the staff of Bermuda Village for their kindness and compassionate care they provided to Papa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Fraternity Church of the Brethren Cemetery Fund, 3760 Fraternity Church Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27127.
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