Robert B. Gray and Mary E. Lynch

They were married on January 17, 1942. The following audio, video, and written accounts cover how they met, their wedding, and their honeymoon.

The Beginning

Like his father before him, Robert B. Gray (or Bob) married his landlord's daughter.* When Bob moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, he rented a room with a private bath from Frank E. and Mary Jane Lynch (Jennie). Frank and Jennie's daughter, Mary E. Lynch (Betty) was later to become Bob's wife. But you don't have to take my word for it, play the audio history below and Betty will tell you in her own words.

Mary E. Lynch Gray's audio history of how she and her husband first met, recorded January 2003. Introduction by Barry Gray.

Listen to Betty tell how she and Bob met.

If the above audio will not play or does not show controls, try downloading the file to your computer and use another application to play it.

Download audio: mp3 format (~10 MB) | aiff format (~100 MB)

*Bob's father, Edward Townsend Gray (or ET), married Sarah Jean Lomison. ET rented a room in Sarah Jean's home when he first moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania (see ET's 1910 Residence entry).

The Engagement

Betty and Bob met on June 17, 1941. Bob proposed to Betty on July 17, 1941. They picked January 17, 1942 for their wedding day. The two newspaper articles below announce Betty's engagement to Bob. The articles are undated but most likely appeared in late July 1941.

Newspaper articles announcing the engagement of Mary E. Lynch to Robert B. Gray, Erie, Pennsylvania.

Robert B. Gray and Mary E. Lynch, probably spring 1941.

The Wedding

License

Mary Lynch and Robert Gray's marriage license, January 10, 1942.

Announcement

Newspaper articles announcing the wedding, January 5, 1942, Erie, Pennsylvania.

RSVP

Letters from out of town guests.

Letter to Betty Lynch from Bob's Aunt Belle, January 12, 1942

Letter to Bob from his cousin, Jeanne Coleman Shugert, January 11, 1942

Leaving the church

This movie was most likely taken by one of Bob's friends or family member.

In order of appearance:

The newly married, Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Gray leave St. Peter's Cathedral, accompanied by Betty's sister, Eileen,
The women on the sidewalk are most likely relatives or friends of Betty and Eileen as Eileen stops to talk to them,
Bob's best man, George Kempf, helps them into their car,
Frank E. and Mary Jane O'Brien Lynch, Betty's parents, leaving the church
Sarah Jean Lomison Gray, Belle Lomison, and several of Bob's cousins, leaving the church
Bob's family on the sidewalk, probably Sarah Jean Lomison Gray, Belle Lomison, Louvora Lomison Coleman, Jeanne Coleman Shugert, Audrey Jane Barron, and either Albert Shugert or Harry Coleman. They are all mentioned in the newspaper article on the weddings as out of town attendees.