1931
Frances
2024
Frances P. Gray
June 8, 1931 — March 8, 2024
Bedford, NH
Frances Anne (Penny) Gray, long-time Manchester educator, passed away
at her home in Manchester NH on March 8, 2024.
She was born in Raleigh, NC on June 8, 1931, the daughter of the late
D. Marvin and Lula Frances (Smith) Penny, they moved to Lynchburg VA
when she was 4 years old. As a young girl she learned to play the
piano and violin. In 1948 she was elected to the High School Who’s Who.
She received academic scholarships for her college and post graduate
studies. She was first in her class at Randolph-Macon Women's College
where she earned her Bachelor’s in Chemistry, while there she also
played violin in the String Ensemble. She was the first holder of a
Fellowship established at Wellesley College by the Celanese
Corporation of America. She graduated from Wellesley College with
a Master’s Degree in Chemistry. She was the first woman accepted for
post-graduate work in Chemistry at the University of Virginia.
She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honorary societies and
the Delta Delta Delta sorority.
She was a high school chemistry teacher at Manchester West High
School for almost 30 years, a former President of the New England
Association of Chemistry Teachers, an adjunct professor in Chemistry
at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester. A volunteer teacher
on Art and Religion with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes,
a Docent at the Currier Museum of Art, a member of the Bedford New
Hampshire Garden Club and a member of the Bedford Presbyterian Church
where she volunteered and taught Sunday school.
She was married to her husband and soul-mate, Philip Gray in 1957
and she was predeceased by him in 2004.
Family members include two sons, David Gray and his partner
Susan Phillips of Weare; and Bruce Gray and his wife Tonya of South
Lyon, MI; three grandchildren, Hannah Gray, Dana Gray, and
Aiden Gray.
A visitation will take place at Bedford Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, June 5th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM with a funeral service to follow in the church at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place in Bedford Center Cemetery. immediately following the service. Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Manchester, is in charge of arrangements. To view an online tribute, send condolences to the
family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net
at her home in Manchester NH on March 8, 2024.
She was born in Raleigh, NC on June 8, 1931, the daughter of the late
D. Marvin and Lula Frances (Smith) Penny, they moved to Lynchburg VA
when she was 4 years old. As a young girl she learned to play the
piano and violin. In 1948 she was elected to the High School Who’s Who.
She received academic scholarships for her college and post graduate
studies. She was first in her class at Randolph-Macon Women's College
where she earned her Bachelor’s in Chemistry, while there she also
played violin in the String Ensemble. She was the first holder of a
Fellowship established at Wellesley College by the Celanese
Corporation of America. She graduated from Wellesley College with
a Master’s Degree in Chemistry. She was the first woman accepted for
post-graduate work in Chemistry at the University of Virginia.
She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honorary societies and
the Delta Delta Delta sorority.
She was a high school chemistry teacher at Manchester West High
School for almost 30 years, a former President of the New England
Association of Chemistry Teachers, an adjunct professor in Chemistry
at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester. A volunteer teacher
on Art and Religion with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes,
a Docent at the Currier Museum of Art, a member of the Bedford New
Hampshire Garden Club and a member of the Bedford Presbyterian Church
where she volunteered and taught Sunday school.
She was married to her husband and soul-mate, Philip Gray in 1957
and she was predeceased by him in 2004.
Family members include two sons, David Gray and his partner
Susan Phillips of Weare; and Bruce Gray and his wife Tonya of South
Lyon, MI; three grandchildren, Hannah Gray, Dana Gray, and
Aiden Gray.
A visitation will take place at Bedford Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, June 5th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM with a funeral service to follow in the church at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place in Bedford Center Cemetery. immediately following the service. Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Manchester, is in charge of arrangements. To view an online tribute, send condolences to the
family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Frances P. Gray, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)
Bedford Presbyterian Church
Funeral Service
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)
Bedford Presbyterian Church
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