Obituaries

Jan Maynard Gray, 85, of Newport News, passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2026. He was a lifelong resident of Newport News and the son of the late Jean Maynard Gray and Helen Maranda Denson Gray. Jan graduated from Warwick High School in 1959. As a child, he lived and traveled throughout Japan with his family from 1949 to 1952, while his father, a U.S. Army officer, helped run the military railway system.

Jan served as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army for 23 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served on active duty and in the Reserves from 1963 to 1991. His tours of duty included tank platoon leader in Germany, helicopter combat operations officer in Vietnam, Assistant Professor of Military Science at the Virginia Military Institute, and staff officer in a brigade in Korea. Jan earned a Bachelor of Arts from V.M.I. in 1963 and a Master of Science from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1975. He was involved in the Boy Scouts for eight years, progressing from Cub Scouts to Explorer Scouts by 1957. He was an active V.M.I. Alumni until his passing, and was committed to the education of future leaders.

Jan was active in civic affairs for 30 years. He served as the president of both the Denbigh Lions Club and Concerned Denbigh Citizens Club, who worked closely with Newport News city officials. Through these efforts, the city built a much-needed community center and a high school. For about 25 years, he contributed to the development of master plans that guided urban development. He also advocated for and helped develop the city’s riverfront property into public park over a span of 10 years.

In 1967, Jan married Charlotte B. Savage. They were married for 40 years and had one daughter, Jennifer. Both Charlotte and Jennifer preceded him in death. In 2021, Jan found love again and married Linda Wright. He is survived by his wife, Linda; extended family members Ronald Wright (Kristie), Steven Wright (Amy), and John Paul Wright (Kathryn); and five grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Sara Gray Bateman of Midlothian, Virginia; his brother, Thomas Wayne Gray of Fairfax, Virginia; and his nieces and nephews: Thomas Gray, Andrew Gray (Sarah), Emily Gray (Chris), Rebecca Howe (Jeff), Sarah Gray, Christopher Bateman (Victoria), Claire Pollak (Mark), and James Bateman (Em). He will be remembered fondly by many beloved great-nieces and nephews.

Jan was the family genealogist researching family history. He compiled summaries of the lives of some of his ancestors, going back about 300 years, so that current and future Gray descendants will know something about their roots.

A Memorial Service, celebrating Jan’s life, will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home. A reception will follow the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Jan’s memory to Wounded Warrior Project (www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org).