Wednesday, May 6, 2026 12:11 pm

Gary Joseph Metcalf, age 75 of Spindale, NC went home to be with our Lord Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Gary was born in East St. Louis, IL in 1951 to the late Arthur Leo and Fern Opal Metcalf. He moved at a young age to Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH. After he graduated high school, he enlisted in the Army where he served as a small arms specialist. He received the National Defense Service Award, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He earned the rank of Sergeant/E-5 before his honorable discharge in 1971. Like most young men from this generation, he carried the visible and invisible scars of his service which included agent orange exposure.

Gary completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Blue Ridge Community College and worked a variety of jobs including welding on an oil rig out of Houston, TX, serving as a mechanical engineer at Martin Marietta, and retiring from the machines shop of a waste solutions company. He spent his retirement with his life partner Christine Kermerait living in the mountains of North Carolina.

Gary is survived by his daughter Billie Jo Beats, two sons, Gary Jo Metcalf and Matthew Leo Metcalf, nine grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and a number of nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Terry Metcalf, Larry Metcalf and George Metcalf and his daughter Joyce Melinda Metcalf.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Services will be held Saturday, May 9 at 12PM at Spencer Baptist Church with Dr. Bruce Caldwell officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the family life center. Military honors will be provided by the Rutherford County Honor Guard.

Online condolences may be made at www.crowemortuary.com.