Wanda C. Gray

Wanda Rose (Casteel) Gray, at 92 of McCordsville, Indiana passed away on Sunday morning, December 1, 2024 at her residence.

Wanda was born on November 21, 1932 in Englewood, Tennessee to farming parents William and Edna Maggie (Land) Casteel, the second of seven children. She gave her heart to God as a teenager. She graduated as high school valedictorian in 1951.

Wanda married Georgia native, Raymond Gray in 1953. They moved to Indianapolis in the mid 1950s. She was a policy typist at an insurance company until around 1965, then became a full time stay-at-home mom until June of 1976. She worked at the federal DFAS Finance and Accounting Center in human resources until her retirement in 1995.

She is survived by brother: Charles (wife Bena) Casteel, and sister: Joyce Barker.

Her son: William Terrel (wife Yolanda) Gray of Westfield, Indiana and daughter: Beverly Ann (husband David) Gray Parks of McCordsville, Indiana.

Seven grandsons: Eric (wife Miranda) Gray, Brian Gray, Matthew Gray, Stephen Gray, Michael (wife Shannon) Parks, Brandon (wife Elizabeth) Parks, and Emanual (wife Edith) Ruiz.

Eleven great grandchildren: Tyrus Gray, Raymond Gray, Benjamin Gray, Oliver Parks, Illyana Parks, Charity (husband Cody) McDaniel, Lindsay (fiancé Blake) Lines, Abigail Gray, Mackenzie Ruiz, Junior Ruiz and Grace Ruiz.

Wanda is preceded in death her parents, her husband, three sisters, one brother and one nephew.

Wanda was all about family and lit up upon seeing them. She cooked many holiday and Sunday meals, enough to feed an army, as southerners do. Over the years she enjoyed gardening, quilting, sewing, working word puzzles, and watching game shows.

Wanda taught Kindergarten Sunday School for over 30 years, influencing the lives of many children, several of whom have become pastors.

Wanda was stronger than she knew. She helped care for her mother-in-law, Lucile Gray, in Ray and Wanda’s home for 11 years, until Lucile’s passing in 1996, then she cared for her husband Ray from 1997 until his passing in 1999.

Wanda was a humble southern woman, always soft-spoken and had nothing negative to say about anyone. She was a quiet prayer warrior. A fellow parishioner once said, “I like it when Wanda prays. She gets answers.” Wanda was praying for others’ salvation right up to the end of her Earthly life. If she had one last thing to say, it would be to get right with the Lord.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Flanner Buchanan – Geist Funeral Center, located at 7855 Cork Road, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Her funeral will begin at 11:00 AM.

Burial will follow at Old Oaklandon Cemetery where Wanda will be laid to rest with her husband Raymond H. Gray.