By: Mark Holtsberry
Emra Theadore Gray was born in Paulding, Ohio April 27, 1892. The son of Harvey, born April of 1858 in Ohio. And Mary Ann (Freeze) Gray born October of 1860 in Ohio. The couple was married July 6, 1879 in Paulding. The couple was farming in the Paulding area.
By 1900 this couple was the parents of Emily Hazel born June 6, 1890, followed by Emra, Grace E. September 28, 1894 and Mabel Edith August 31, 1896. By 1910, the Gray family was still farming, Emra had quit school after tenth grade and was helping her dad on the farm. Emily had gotten married and moved out.
On June 5, 1917, Emra went to the Briceton precinct and registered for the World War one draft. Emra had been serving in Company B. 2nd Ohio National Guard out of Paulding and was listed as medium short build, blue eyes, brown hair and single. He was working as a railroad clerk at the Latty train station.
On April 18, 1918, Emra joined the National army out of Paulding. He served in the 253rd Company Military Police Corp. and was sent overseas in France in June of 1918. He was promoted to Private First Class November 1, 1918.
On July 13, 1919, Emra boarded the ship America at Brest, France. He arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey July 22, 1919. Emra was Honorably Discharged July 30, 1919.
By 1920, Emra found his old job waiting for him, working as a railroad clerk at Latty. His sister Grace had married and moved out of the house. On September 15, 1920, Emra married a gal named Velmah G. Doster from Paulding. She was born September 15, 1891 in Ohio. I guess Happy Birthday present! Velmah was a school teacher, I guess at Paulding. By 1923 Emra and Velmah were living at 43219 Maplewood Avenue in Toledo. Emra was working as a clerk on the railroad. On November 16, 1926, a daughter, Marilyn M. was born. In 1928, the Gray family had moved to 3115 Scottwood Avenue in Toledo.
In 1929, Emra’s father, Harvey, had passed away. By 1930, the Gray family was living on Berkshire Street in Toledo. Era was still working on the Railroad as a mail clerk. By 1940, the Gray family had moved to Brussels Street in Toledo. Emra was still working as a Railroad Mail Clerk. Velmah’s mother, Henryetta Doster will come and live with them.
In 1942, Emra had to register for the World War Two draft. By 1950, daughter Marilyn, had moved to South Euclid, Ohio. She had gotten a degree in teaching and had a teaching position at an Elementary City Public School System. As for Emra and Velmah, they continued to live on Berkshie Street in Toledo. Emra was still working as a Railroad Mail Clerk. On January 20, 1952, Emra passed away. He was buried in Ottawa Hills Memorial Park Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio. His wife Velmah never remarried and she passed away March 18, 1987. She is buried with Era. Marilyn married a fella named John L. Hedde. She passed away February 7, 2021. She and her husband are buried in Michigan.
