Alva Sidney Wray, son of the late Henry and Josie Mahan Wray, was born February 5, 1920 in Pontiac, MO and departed this life July 4, 2017 at Gainesville Healthcare Center at the age of 97.

On May 18, 1942, he was united in marriage to Eunice Hillhouse at Gainesville, MO.
They moved to Los Angeles, CA, where he was inducted into the United States Army serving during World War II. After basic training he was immediately shipped overseas, landing in the English Channel and proceeding directly into combat. Alva remained in Germany for the next twenty-two months.

On May 3, 1946 Alva received an honorable discharge as Technical Sergeant along with World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, three Overseas Bars, and European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Stars.
Returning to Los Angeles, CA, he was employed by Chrysler Assembly Division. Later moving to Kansas City, MO he was employed by Cunningham Olds, retiring in 1982 with 26 years of service.
Alva was a charter member of the Kansas City, MO First General Baptist church organized in 1951. After moving to Springfield, MO in 1982, they transferred membership to First General Baptist Church of Springfield.
Alva was a 60 year member of the Masonic Lodge. He was initiated on March 21, 1957 and passed his first degree May 2, 1957. After being a member of the Ivanhoe Lodge, Alva transferred his membership to the Henderson No. 477 Lodge on November 30, 1984. He received his 50 year pin on June 2, 2007.

He is survived by a daughter Dorothy Rhine and husband Floyd of West Plains, MO; one granddaughter Vicky Combs; two great granddaughters Anna (Combs) Casey and husband Craig of West Plains and Shana (Combs) Scicluna and husband Justin of Kansas City, MO; three great-great grandchildren, Landon, Lexus, and Lyndzey Casey of West Plains, MO.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Eunice; his parents Henry and Josie Mahan Wray; sister Eula Crabtree Coyer; five brothers, Averill, Walter, Everett, Heshell, and Clifford.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 7, 2017 in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home chapel, Gainesville, MO with Jim Kinder and Dean Trivitt officiating. Visitation will be Friday morning from 10 a.m. to service time. Burial with Full Military Honors will be in the Pontiac Cemetery, Pontiac, MO. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Pontiac Cemetery or Hospice Compassus, and can be left or mailed to: Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, PO Box 65, Gainesville, MO 65655. On line condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome.com.