Dorian Robert Gray

Dorian Robert Gray, age 91, went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 15, 2026.

Dorian was born in Warren, PA on January 21, 1935, to the late Ralph Lee Gray and Genevieve Porter Gray. He was a graduate of Warren High School, class of 1953.

Following high school, Dorian enlisted in the Army on June 9, 1955, and spent most of his time in Fort Hood, TX, as a tank mechanic. He rose to the rank of Sergeant in a very short time. He was transferred to the Army Reserves on June 7, 1957, and honorably discharged from service on May 31, 1963.

Dorian married his one and only lifelong love, Donna Hewitt, on October 11, 1958. Following his transfer to the Army Reserves, Dorian attended Alfred University in Alfred, NY. There he earned a BS degree in Ceramic Engineering, graduating on June 19, 1964.

After graduation, Dorian was hired by the Ford Motor Company as a ceramic engineer and moved his family to Dearborn, MI. He was later transferred to the Ford Glass Plant in Nashville, TN, where he was part of the Technical Group responsible for glass formulation and production. During his 32-year tenure, he accrued three patents and many accolades for his development of low-emissivity (low-e) glass at Ford. He retired from Ford in 1996.

Dorian was a beloved husband, father, uncle and grandfather. He was also a lifelong learner. He loved working on automobiles and attended and graduated from the Nashville Auto Diesel College while also being employed full time at Ford. He loved reading, working jigsaw puzzles, gardening, and being with his grandchildren.

Dorian and his wife Donna were avid members of Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and the Daylily Society of Nashville. He spent his retirement volunteering for these and many other organizations as well as cultivating and growing daylilies at his home in West Nashville, where he and Donna lived for more than 40 years.

Dorian was a strong Christian and was very active at Woodmont Baptist Church, taking care of the plants and flowers there with his wife Donna. He also completed a mission trip to Sierra Leone, Africa to build a church building for that community to help spread God’s word. His legacy of love, generosity and integrity will last for years to come.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Louise Hewitt Gray, his daughter Brenda Lee Gray, and his son Daren Robert Gray in addition to 13 brothers and sisters. He is survived by his daughter, Heidi Lynn Gray Breeding of Lebanon, TN, his grandson Colton Gray Breeding (Claire) of Nashville, TN, and his granddaughter Katie McKenzie Breeding of Lebanon, TN as well as nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN, where Dorian was a long-time contributor.