William Gray Hatcher

HATCHER
Mr. William Gray Hatcher, 92, of Winston-Salem, passed away Sunday, April 13, 2014 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. He was born February 27, 1922 in Ararat, NC to James Melvin and Hadie Johnson Hatcher. Mr. Hatcher served in the U.S. Marines from January 14, 1941 to October 9, 1945 in the famous 1st Marine Division Company K 3-5. He was Private First Class, known as the ""old breed"" and served in five major battles at Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Cape Gloucester, Ngesebus, and the 14 day war at Peleliu. He was trained in Australia to be a scout sniper. He was also one of the first flame-throwers in a 31-hour bitter fight at Ngesebus, and his regiment of the First Marine Division overran this small, heavily fortified coral atoll. His company wiped out the enemy and had taken another airstrip to add to America's Pacific prizes. He spent the rest of his life as an auto dealer and body shop owner, Gray's Auto Sales and L&M Motors until 1977. He enjoyed fishing at the Outer Banks, and was the 1955 Hydroplane B Southeastern Boat Champ. Gray was a simple man with a simple cause, make everyone your friend and enjoy life to the fullest because he had seen and knew how precious life was. Surviving is his family, John, Cathy, Patrick and Andrea Lusk. He leaves behind a great legacy. May God bless his soul and spirit. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters, Edgar, Porter, Herbert, James, Myrtle and Mary. A graveside service with full military honors by the Clemmons Memorial Honor Guard will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 18, 2014 at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Gary Byrum and Mr. Lou Larosa officiating. Memorials may be made to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Cemetery Details