John A. "Jack" Bray Obituary (1928 - 2006)

Remembering "Jack" with Love... John A. "Jack" Bray of 424 Holly Drive, Ephrata, formerly Arlington, VA, died at age 77 on Sunday the 21st of May at Ephrata Hospital after a brief battle with cancer. Born in New Kensington, Westmoreland Co., he was a son of the late John A. and Regene (McCullough) Bray, and the husband of Rosita A. (Almaguer) Bray, since their marriage in 1953. He served in the Army for 2 years in World War II as a Staff Sgt. in Japan and then graduated from Monmouth College, Warren Co., IL, in 1952. After that, the federal government employed Jack as a Geodesist (high precision mapping) for 36 years. He most recently worked part-time with R.R. Donnelley in Lancaster from 1999 until his illnessthis past January. Here in PA he was a member of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ephrata, a member of the Knights of Columbus, Father Daley Council, a volunteer with Hospice of Lanc. Co. and as hobbies, did genealogy research and traveled. As a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, San Antonio , TX , he was the executive program director of activities, president of the Archdiocesan Sodality, organizer of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, an officer in the Knight of Columbus and received the 1965 "St. Thomas More Award" for Outstanding Lay Service to the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He then relocated to Arlington , VA , where he was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, for 20 years before retiring and relocating in Lanc. Co. Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, John M. Bray, Ephrata, and Mark D. Bray, Glendale , CA . Another son, Matthew D. Bray, died in 1995. Viewing Mass of Christian Burial...VIEWING: Good Funeral Home, 34-38 N. Reamstown Rd. , Reamstown, Thursday 7-9 PM; Christian Prayer Service at 8 PM. MASS: OMPH Catholic Church, Church Pine Sts. , Ephrata, Friday, May 26, 2006, 10:30 AM. BURIAL: Cedar Hill Cemetery , Ephrata. Rather than flowers, please remember Jack with contributions to Hospice of Lanc. Co. , Box 4125 , Lancaster , PA 17604-4125 .