He was born in Alcoa, Tenn., and was the son of the late Victor Reed Gregory Sr. and Gusta Robinson Gregory. He was preceded in death by one sister, Louise Zachery. Mr. Gregory was a graduate of Alcoa High School and a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving in the China and India Theater during WWII. He was an avid golfer and a member of the High Vista Country Club in Avery&squo;s Creek Community. He was a wholesale lumber salesman working for many companies and was a member of the Avery&squo;s Creek United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Louise Rhodes Gregory of Columbus; two daughters, Jo Ann Gregory Bailey of Columbus and Jane Gregory of Longwood, Fla.; a son, William Reed Gregory of Round Lake Beach, Ill.; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a sister, Barbara Gunter of Omaha, Nebraska; a brother, Bill Gregory of Powell, Tenn.; several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 7 in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, Arden, N.C., with the Rev. Neil Haynes officiating.

The family will receive friends from 10‐11 a.m. Friday at Groce Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held at noon Friday in the chapel of the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team.

Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, Va. 22038-1131 or the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, 706 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, N.J. 08002.

The memorial register is available at &dquo;Obituaries&dquo; at www.grocefuneralhome.com.

Groce Funeral Home, Arden, N.C., is in charge of arrangements.