Gary David Gregory joined our Heavenly Father on October 27th, after years of suffering from various illnesses.
He was born on May 23rd,1949 in Kingsport, Tennessee in the foothills of Bays Mountain where his heart never left. Gary loved the mountains and the serenity he felt closer to God. Gary had a gentle and humble soul. He loved nature, camping, making a garden bigger than he could manage, raising turkeys and chickens. He loved his family and his family’s music that defined his years of singing and playing the guitar for audiences small and large with his family and church. He was a deacon, Sunday school teacher, a member of the local Ruritans, sang in choirs and in his special trio with his wife Angela and Father-in-law/Best friend, Pat.
Gary joined the Navy in 1967 and retired with honors as a Navy Commander in 2000 serving 33 years active duty followed by 19 1/2 years Civil Service Federal Government as a Naval Air Flight Systems Project Manager. His notable tours of duty included, but not limited to: Medical Corpsman, Aeromedical Safety Officer, Aerospace Physiology, Naval Aviation Investigations and Analyses and Naval Aviation Water Survival …and the list goes on.
He leaves behind his wife, Angela Lynn Gregory, his daughter, Jennifer Brooke Lane, her husband James Lane, his son Sean David Gregory, his wife Leigh Gregory, his step-daughter Nicole Dawn Armentrout, her husband Blake Armentrout, his step-son Patrick Leslie Fisher, and his wife Ericka Fisher. He will miss watching his 8 beautiful grandchildren continue to grow: Shelby Rae, Zion, Autumn, Kelsey, Emma, Hunter, twins – Owen & Adam and great grandson Lennon. He also leaves behind his loving brother, Terry Gregory, his wife Diane Gregory, his sister Selene Hammonds, her husband Tim Hammonds, many nieces, nephews, cousins, many in-laws and friends.
Thank you so much to all of the family and close friends who supported and stood by Gary over the years and loved him for the peaceful spirit and honorable man who will always be in our hearts. Gary will be infinitely missed!
Friends may pay their respects at Altmeyer Funeral Home, 929 Battlefield Blvd., South, Chesapeake on Friday from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm and on Saturday from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm. A celebration of Gary’s life will be held on Sunday at 1:00 pm at Blackwater Baptist Church with Pastor Lynn Hardaway officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Blackwater Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Blackwater Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (https://www.nmcrs.org/), or the Wounded Warrior Project (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/) Please express condolences to the family below.
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Bob Elzy posted on 11/9/20
It is with great sadness for Gary’s family and many friends, but great joy for Gary, that I post these memories of my friend Gary. In the Navy it was always a joyous time when you received a promotion, Gary has now received Gods promotion to Heaven. It has been said of life that although you have many acquaintances, if you have a handful of true friends you are blessed. Gary was one of those true friends for me. We were stationed together in the Navy as aviation/aerospace physiologist on several occasions. We shared some great times and some trying times together. We enjoyed competing together from chess to racquetball. I would mention fishing but he seemed to always get the upper hand in that. We both liked old cars, and dogs, among other things. I remember an old El Camino, an old Pick up truck, and an old Volkswagen “ Thing“ , as some of his treasures. I remember Commodore, and Jojo as two of his favorite boxers. I remember a time when my son Jason was hit by car on the way to school. It was just after Christmas and my wife had stayed in Kentucky to help sick parents. As l went to work, I had dropped off my son at a friends house close to school so they could walk there together. Gary was at the emergency room with me when The ambulance brought my son in. Fortunately my son fully recovered from the accident but Gary and his family were a great help during this trying time. I remember his love for his children Brooke and Sean. I remember watching Sean play football. But above all these, I was with Gary when he turned his life over to Christ. Of all bonds that link men together to be brothers in Christ is the greatest!! Farewell my brother Gregory we will meet again!