Wiley Dean Gray

Wiley Dean Gray, age 91, of Newton, formerly Altoona, IA passed away on August 23, 2023, at Newton Village. A memorial service will be held at 10am Saturday August 26, 2023, with interment in Altoona Cemetery following. Visitation with family will be prior to the service at 9am. Memorial contributions may be made to Howard Street Christian Church.

Born May 3, 1932, to Zeb & Muriel (Wiley) Gray at Lamoni, IA, Wiley grew up on a farm and went to country school. After graduation he worked for a farmer until enlisting in the army. Wiley took his training at Camp McCoy Wisconsin then was stationed in Wurzburg, Germany serving in the 194th Field Artillery battalion during the Korean War from 1950 – 1952.

After his discharge, Wiley met Lois V. Hembry while she was working in Des Moines. They were married in Greenville, IA at his friend’s home on October 3, 1954.

Wiley had a 37-year career as a truck driver. He drove for Travis Transport, then later for D.X. Oil and Capp homes. He drove for Gromark F.S. for 19 years and received numerous safe driver awards hauling anhydrous before retiring in 1994.

In his free time Wiley participated in a bowling league for many years, enjoyed visiting the casinos, watching car races on TV and had a love for Bluegrass Music, often attending festivals throughout Iowa. Wiley had a deep love for his wife Lois and took care of her until she lost her battle with cancer in 2003 after 49 wonderful years of marriage. Wiley later met Lois Young and she was his companion for 13 years until her passing in 2020.

Those left to honor his memory are Wiley’s 2 brothers Lyle and Melvin (Peggy) Gray of Lamoni. His sister Birdie Hollenbeck of Walnut Creek, CA, and many nieces and nephews in Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Nebraska as well as brothers and sisters-in-law in Iowa and Virginia. In addition to his family, Wiley would like to provide a special thank you to his very good friends Charlie Harper & family as well as Erland and Mary Heinrich & family. Wiley also wants to provide, and extra special thank you his brother-in-law Jim (Kay) Fenn of Nevada for his assistance with carpentry projects through the years as well as his nieces Brenda (Robert) Ryan of Newton and Sue Mellon of Liberty, MO who helped care for him in his later years.

Wiley was preceded in death by his wife Lois, his parents, his brothers Delbert, Carol, and Gene, his sister-in-law Helen Gray.

An extra special thank you goes out to the staff of the VA Medical Center in Des Moines and Newton Village for the amazing care given to Wiley during his health challenges this year.