Gearheart, Jerry Wayne

Jerry Wayne Gearheart, 69, of Floyd County, Virginia, passed away on November 24, 2025, after a very short but courageous fight with cancer.

A proud native of Floyd County, Jerry graduated from Floyd County High School — and, as he liked to say, “the school of hard knocks” with flying colors. From a young age, he learned the art of mechanics from his father and mother, standing on a crate under the hood of a car at just six years old. Among his earliest adventures was helping build what was, at the time, the largest wrecker in Virginia — a true family project. That early passion became his lifelong craft.

Jerry spent many years working side by side with his parents at Gearheart & Sons Garage in Pilot, Virginia, before opening his own bay, Gearheart’s Truck Service, specializing in diesel trucks. Over the years, he also worked as an over-the-road truck driver, a bus driver during high school, a bowling alley manager, and later continued turning wrenches after moving to North Carolina. To those he loved, he could fix anything — or at least “Jerry Rig” it.

Beyond his work, Jerry lived life with joy and energy. He loved his family and friends, bowling, dancing, golf, and time at Smith Mountain Lake. One of his proudest achievements was winning the 2008 World Champion Pro Am Country Western Dance UCWDC Diamond Advanced — a title he worked tirelessly to earn.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Wayne Gearheart and Eloise Octavia Gearheart, and by the mother of his daughters, Debra Joyce Gearheart.

He is survived by his loving partner, Janet Leigh Gold, and her sons, Aaron and David; daughters Angie Gearheart Bailey (Tim) and Amanda Renee Gearheart; grandchildren Haley Ann Reed (Dylan), Austin Lee Marsh, and Natalee Marie Bailey; great-grandchildren Braxton Lee, Beau Wayne, and soon-to-arrive Bailey Octavia; sister JoAnn Jennings; brother Mark Gearheart; and many other beloved family members and friends.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at a later date. His legacy will live on in the engines he brought back to life, the strikes he made at the bowling alley, the dance floors he lit up, his “in-the-zone” golfing, and the love he gave so freely to those around him.

Online condolences and messages to the family are encouraged and may be shared at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com

Michael J. Fulwood Funeral & Cremation Service.