Thomas Gray

Thomas (Tom) Leonard Gray, 78, of Rantoul, passed away peacefully to be with Yeshua, his Lord and Deliverer, on Sunday afternoon, November 2, 2025, at Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois.

Tom was born on October 14, 1947, at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, to Leonard and Ruth (Cameron) Gray. His father was a career Air Force man who retired after 20 years of service, moving the family to Springfield, Massachusetts, where Tom was the eldest of seven children.

Tom attended Springfield Trade High School, where he studied to become a machinist. He was also active in sports, lettering in baseball and participating on the wrestling team. Shortly after graduating in 1966, Tom enlisted in the United States Air Force and completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Following basic training, Tom was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he met Crystal (Cris) Honaker on New Year’s Eve 1966. They were married on May 19, 1967, and together raised four children.

Tom served 22 years in the Air Force, with assignments at numerous bases including Lackland AFB, Texas; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Travis AFB, California; Anderson AFB, Guam; Pease AFB, New Hampshire; Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand; Keesler AFB, Mississippi; Lowry AFB, Colorado; Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; Incirlik Air Base, Adana, Turkey; and Chanute AFB, Rantoul, Illinois, where he retired on October 31, 1998. During his service, he was a machinist and an aircraft mechanic on C-130s and retired as NCOIC of the Safety Office at Chanute AFB.

He was preceded in death by his father Leonard Gray, mother Ruth (Cameron) Gray, and two brothers, Leonard A. Gray and Carl David Gray.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Crystal (Cris); his children: Ruth (Randy) Alpizar of Kenosha, Wisconsin; Rich of Rantoul, Illinois; Rebecca (Becky) Stalter of Rantoul, Illinois; and Zechariah (Zach) of Davenport, Iowa. He is also survived by three sisters—Jane Gray and Nancy Gray-Giffin of Springfield, Massachusetts, and Gloria Gray of Orlando, Florida—and a brother, Roger Gray of Chicopee, Massachusetts.

He was a proud grandfather to Ashley Dargan (U.S. Navy, Stuttgart, Germany), Victoria (Truman) Slocum (Bath, Maine), Robert W. Dargan (Waterford, Michigan), Courtney Bina (Chicago, Illinois), Sarah (Reid) Schlacht (Paxton, Illinois), Adam Harris (Oregon City, Oregon), Rita Poremba (Rantoul, Illinois), AJ Poremba (Rantoul, Illinois), Shelby Stalter (New Orleans, Louisiana), Lily Stalter (Rantoul, Illinois), Tyler Bachelor (Champaign, Illinois), Dawson Gray (Champaign, Illinois), and 17 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Carle Health Center for Philanthropy in memory of Thomas L. Gray, specifically to the Cancer Center. Contributions can be sent to Carle Health Center, 611 W Park St, Urbana, IL 61801.

Tom’s legacy is one of devotion to family, country, and faith. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 10, 2025, from 11am-1pm at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center’s Lux Chapel 1551 E. Grove Ave, Rantoul, IL. 61866. His service will follow at 1pm. Tom will be interred at Glen Cemetery in Paxton.

Please join Tom’s family in sharing memories, photos and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.