Reynold P. 'Rey' Graunas

Weston – Mr. Reynold P. 'Rey' Graunas, of Weston died Sunday, July 15, 2018 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital after a long period of health issues. He was 90.

Born on May 29, 1928 in Ozone Park, Queens, New York he was a son of the Lithuanian immigrants John and Mary (Rinkevicius) Graunas. Upon graduating from high school with honors he came to Cambridge in 1946 to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. It was in Boston where he met Claire L. Thornton and they later married in Saint Teresa of Avila Church in West Roxbury and later the same year they moved to Weston.

Upon graduating in 1950 with his ROTC training and background he served with the United States Army in Korea as a lieutenant. Upon his return to the states he served in the Massachusetts State Guard where he retired with the rank of Brigadier General.

Professionally he worked at the General Telephone and Electronics System Division in Needham as a military equipment development engineer for over forty years. He served as lead mechanical engineer on several highly classified top secret projects associated with the development of outer space communication satellites. This work included design on some of the most sophisticated satellites devoted to worldwide communications and additional work included development of several large ground based antennas required for communication.

Active in several military organizations he was most notably and proudly the Commander in 1991 of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He was a longtime member of the Weston Rotary Club, Retired Men's Association of Sudbury, the Massachusetts Military Historical Society and Saint Julia's Parish.

In addition to his wife of sixty years, Claire, he leaves their children, Sheila M. Childs (Richard) of Fresno, Texas, Paula J. Fortuna (James) of South Hampton, New Hampshire and Jennifer Graunas (Robert Phillips) of Brentwood, New Hampshire; his grandchildren, Timothy Childs, Madeleine Messer (Eric), Peter Childs (Alyssa), Craig Childs, Catherine, Jeffrey and Nicholas Fortuna, Russell, Glenn and Brian Phillips; his great-grandchildren Lincoln and Connor Messer; nieces & nephews.

He was a brother of the late Ernest Graunas.

Family and friends will honor and remember Rey's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, July 19th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Julia Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Linwood Cemetery.

Memorials in his name may be made to Saint Julia's Parish, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA 02493.