Gary Donavan Bales

Gary Donavan Bales Sr. was born February 7, 1945, in Washington, DC and is the son of the late Thomas Buchanan Bales and Elsie Marie Haney Bales of Pearisburg, VA. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Margaret and Barbara, and brother, Rodney. Gary grew up in Franconia, VA. After attending Robert E. Lee High School, he went to work for Kasun Oldsmobile from 1965 to 1969. He left Kasun to work at Stohlman Oldsmobile, where he would remain a hard working and loyal employee for years to come. Gary was drafted into the United States Army on December 15th, 1970 and was a proud Vietnam veteran. He was honorably discharged in September 1972 from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Following his Army service, he returned to work as a car mechanic at Stohlman Oldsmobile. Gary worked at Stohlman Oldsmobile until it was sold to Mercedes-Benz in 2002. He officially retired on May 1, 2015 from Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria. On July 8, 1978, he married his beloved wife, Debra Ann Rother Bales. They had one child together, their son Gary Donovan Bales Jr. Gary Sr. and Debra were married 44 years and lived in Woodbridge, VA. Above all else, he was a loving husband, a proud father, and wonderful friend. He loved his family deeply and would do anything for them. He was an experienced mechanic and avid “car guy” who could spend hours talking to others about all things car related. His other hobbies included fishing, hunting, boating, and watching his favorite sports teams, the Washington Redskins and Nationals. Gary enjoyed hosting parties for family and friends, decorating the house for the holidays, and working on his son's modified cars. Also, no summer was complete without a drive up to the Wharf in Washington D.C. to buy oysters and blue crabs to feast on at home. He had a love for animals, especially his dogs which consisted of Norwegian Elkhounds and a Shiba Inu. Gary was also a very talented artist with a sharp eye for detail. Not to mention a great dancer too, which was a skill he shared with his sister, Barbara. Despite suffering a variety of physical health problems in the past several years, Gary persevered through it all with a strong determination to not let it hold him back from doing the things he loved to do. His strength and ableness to bounce back from many surgeries and illnesses was a marvel to his family and caretakers. Gary Donovan Bales, Sr, 77, of Woodbridge, VA, peacefully passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at UVA Prince William Medical Center, Manassas, VA. He is dearly missed by his family who cherish the time they had together, and he will forever be in their hearts.

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Gary Donavan Bales

February 7, 1945 - January 19, 2023