Thomas John Bray

From camcorders to cell phones, Tom Bray was the consummate salesman. Born September 18,1932 in Pennsylvania, Tom attended public schools in upstate Pennsylvania until his family moved to Philadelphia in 1947 and then attended and graduated from John Bartram High School in 1950. In 1951 Tom joined the U.S. Army, serving in it’s intelligence branch – The Army Security Agency, for 2 ½ years in both Korea and Japan until being discharged in 1954. Upon his return to Philly, Tom joined American Airlines as a ticket agent where he met the love of his life, Doris who was employed at the sales office. After a short romance and engagement, they married in June 1956 and settled in Philly. In 1961 Tom started a long and distinguished career as Regional Sales Manager, Zone Sales Manager in the wholesale consumer electronics business. He was a top performer with electronics giants Magnavox, Panasonic, Mitsubishi and Motorola. On December 31, 1969, the Brays moved to Houston to develop a motel chain called Roadrunner Motor Inn with friends of theirs. They built and operated 2 Roadrunner motels in the Houston area. After 30+ years in the consumer electronics business, Tom joined Motorola Cellular in 1990 from which he retired in 1998 and began a second 25+ year long career in the insurance field specializing in long-term care insurance. After he retired from the LTC business, he joined an association who specializes in working with WWII and Korean war veterans of their widowed spouses to obtain VA benefits. During his insurance and veteran activities. Tom’s desire to give back to the community led him to volunteer position at the Memorial Assistance Ministry in west Houston. Almost every Friday for more than 15 years, if he and Doris weren’t off on some adventure, Tom was the “Highly talented, professional and unpaid” cashier at MAM’s retail store on Blalock and Long point where all proceeds went to the organization’s programs to help families in need and children in school. Travel was among Tom’s favorite things. As a result of his business activities, he had been to every state in the union, including Hawaii twice, Alaska twice, Japan twice, Mexico, the Caribbean, Panama and all over Europe and Canada. Tom and Doris had been members of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church since 1970 where he served as the extraordinary center aisle usher for 11AM Sunday services. Tom is survived his lovely (and some would say long-suffering wife) Doris, a son; Thomas, a daughter; Elizabeth, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. A son; Ross, passed away February 18, 2011. A Memorial Service Celebrating Tom’s life will be held Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079.

Thomas John Bray

September 18, 1932 - May 25, 2026