Charles R. 'Chuck' Gregory, 1934-2013: Revered bowler owned concrete finishing firm

3/22/2013

Charles R. “Chuck” Gregory, 78, a championship bowler who ran the concrete finishing business his father started, died Thursday in Jupiter Medical Center, Jupiter, Fla.

He had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lived the last 2½ years in Jupiter with his son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Paulette Gregory. He was a longtime Maumee resident.

As a bowler, Mr. Gregory was a regular leader in the Times Traveling Classic, later known as The Blade Traveling Classic. He was inducted into the Toledo Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1984.

He had four city titles: two team championships; one all-events title and, with Bob Bensch, a doubles title. He and Mr. Bensch finished second as a doubles team at the 1970 American Bowling Congress tournament in Knoxville, Tenn.

Over the course of 17 ABC tournaments, his average was 194. In 1975, he led local qualifiers with an 1197 series followed by a 1279 series to qualify for the 1976 National Open tournament in Grand Prairie, Texas. His total in the two series also qualified him for the 1975 Ohio men’s singles competition.

Mr. Gregory took Ohio Major Tournament Association titles in 1969, 1971, and 1972.

“He could have, without a doubt, been a professional bowler,” his son, Chris, said. “There was no money in it at that point. He chose to continue to take care of our family.”

He often bowled seven nights a week.

“He was very particular about his habits,” his son said. “Whatever he decided he was going to do, that was what he committed himself to do. When he committed himself to bowling, he went all the way.”

Mr. Gregory was finished with the sport by 1990. He no longer bowled in leagues or competitively or for pleasure.

“When he felt it was time, and he wasn’t going to commit himself to it anymore, he stopped," his son said.

He was born April 11, 1934, in Russellville, Ky., and the family moved to Toledo when he was small. He was a graduate of DeVilbiss High School and was an Army veteran of the Korean War.

His father, Raymond Gregory, had a concrete finishing company, and he’d helped out since childhood. He eventually took over the business, which he ran from his home.

“They did work for some of the biggest home builders in Toledo, doing basements and driveways,” his son said. A pool installation company hired Mr. Gregory for pool decking jobs.

“He always took care of his customers, always,” his son said. “He could have made a lot more money, but he took care of his customers with details that were beyond what anybody else would do.”

He retired about 2001.

For many years, he spent his winter vacations in Florida, and he liked going to dog racing tracks. He was a member of the Maumee Elks.

“He always wanted to make you feel comfortable by telling you a joke or a story,” his son said. “The people who knew him well knew he would tell that joke over and over.”

He was formerly married to Carolyn Gregory.

Surviving are his sons, Charles, Jr., Craig, and Chris Gregory; brother, David; sisters, Dorothy and Susan, and eight grandchildren.

Memorial services are pending.

His son, Chris, suggested tributes to any anti-smoking cause.