Grant Dale Gregory, “Uncle Grant”

Grant Dale Gregory, “Uncle Grant” 89, beloved husband of Jean C. Williams Gregory, of Erie, and formerly of Corry, went to be with his Lord on January 29, 2023

He was the last survivor of his 13 brothers and sisters.  He was the 11th child of Ray and Blanche (Pelkey) Gregory of Bitumen, PA, Grant was born on March 21, 1933 in Renovo, PA (Clinton County).

He was raised in the coal mining town of Bitumen and went to Renovo school before moving to Harbor Creek and graduating from there in 1952.

As America was at war, Grant was inducted into the US Army in 1952. Following basic training at Fort Meade he was deployed to Korea where he served in the US Army Engineers Battalion for a period of two years. He spent 11 months deployed overseas in Korea and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. Upon his honorable discharge from the military, he returned to the Erie area and went to work in the machine shop at Bucyrus-Erie Corp. He was later promoted to Line Foreman; Assistant Superintendent of Assembly and retired as the Superintendent of Assembly.

Grant served his community from 1960-1971 by volunteering at Fairfield Hose Company as a fire fighter and on the ambulance team.  He achieved the rank of Captain during that time.

Grant, his wife Jean and their kids owned and operated the Willow Springs Campground in Elgin from 1969 until 1983.  Many friends and life-long relationships were started there.

Grant and Jean join SOWERS from 1998-2013.  They traveled in their RV nationwide serving the Lord doing projects at church camps.

He loved woodworking and gifted many items over the years, from porch swings to turn tables, to quilt racks, to cutting boards.

He was an avid outdoorsman and spent many weekends at the family homestead in Bitumen.
Family would gather to tell stories and hunt in familiar places such as Slide Hollow and Hicks Hollow.

Grant was active in the Christian Missionary Alliance churches in Corry and Harbor Creek and served as an Elder in both church’s..

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, David Grant Gregory in 1976; 2 great grandsons, Clark Hedlund and Ford Snyder; his beloved sisters, Isabell Arndt, Edith Beckes Casper, Eileen Causeman, Ruth “Dolly” Judice, Ann Cramer and Sylvia Edder Thompson; also, his brothers and hunting buddies, Raymond, Norman, Russell, Arthur, Max, Gene and Larry Gregory.

He is survived by his wife, Jean C. Williams Gregory, who he married on October 8, 1954 in Mayville, NY, also by two daughters, Darcy Snyder (Bob) of Harborcreek and Diane Dunkelman (Tom) of Gardnerville, NV; a son, Douglas Gregory of Erie; 12 grandchildren; Mandy Hedlund (Cory), Dan Snyder (Hannah), Haley O’Connor (Joe), Shelby Gregory (James), Paige Gregory, Cara Dunkelman, Sean Dunkelman, Grant Dunkelman; 7 great grandchildren, Cael Hedlund; Kennedy, Scarlett and Savannah Snyder; Radian, Scarlett and Bode Barrett, and many nieces and nephews who loved their “Uncle Grant.”

Friends may call on Wednesday from 1PM to 3 PM and 6PM to 8PM at the East Lake Road Alliance Church, 4500 East Lake Rd., Erie and are invited to attend services there on Thursday at  10AM with Rev. David Voelker, Rev. James Moffett and Rev. Clyde Davis officiating.

Burial with full military honors will be at the Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Women’s Care Center of Erie, 4408 Peach St., Erie, PA 16509 or to the East Lake Road Alliance Church.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Edder Funeral Home Inc., Girard.

To send condolences go to edderfuneralhome.com