Gary Wayne Sipe

Gary Wayne Sipe, age 74, left his memory here with us the morning of October 22, 2024.
Born February 9, 1950, in Rockingham County, Virginia, he was the son of the late Harold and Frances Sipe of Harrisonburg, Virginia. He was the younger brother to Barbara Sipe of Port Republic, Virginia.
In addition to his sister Barbara, he is survived by his nieces, Lori and Carrie Kyger, Wendy Trout and fiancé, Alvin Criss who became a special friend and support to Gary. He is also survived by numerous great-nieces and nephews, Skye Falls, Ariel and Chance Blankenship, and Ellee and Tucker Trout.
Gary attended Montevideo High School, graduated from Madison College, now James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and received his Master's degree in education from Kentucky University in 1972. Gary went on to teach Latin, German, French, and Italian for over 42 years in Fairfax County, Virginia. Several days before the beginning of one particular school year, the principal of the school he was then teaching for, asked if he had ever spoken Spanish? When Gary replied, "No," the principal asked if he would be willing to learn the language and teach it before the beginning of school ~ and so he did. He literally learned an entire language within days. Having a true passion for ancient Rome, Gary chaperoned groups of students 22 different times to Rome, Greece, Italy, Germany, Holland, and France during the season of Passover. Traveling to such places fueled his love for art, especially paintings, pottery, and music. Craving the culinary culture from the places he had visited, Gary began replicating his favorite dishes while home, thus becoming quite the chef, Manicotti was his signature dish. Gary was fascinated with rocks. He had collections stemming from all the beautiful places he visited, Mt. Vesuvius being amongst his favorite. Gary loved all of God's creatures; birds, squirrels, and beagle dogs, especially. Across the years of his life, he was the father to 6 fur babies, now survived by two, Gabriello and Luciano. Of course, all of his fur babies barked fluently in Latin.
Health complications led Gary back home where he spent the last 15 months of his life with his sister, Barbara, in Port Republic, Virginia. From the little boy who once wrote to first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, asking her for a pony ~ and YES ~ got a response back apologizing for her noncompliance ~ to the "bottom bunk" shark games he would play to steal her all of her candy, Barbara and Gary shared a close, beautiful, and supportive siblingship all the years of their life. In many ways she was like a mother to him and he simply adored her. His short absence has left a void that not even time can heal. Memories of happier days and love he gave will help to pacify the hearts and minds of all those he left behind ~ until we meet again. "Aeneid I, 293: "Forsan Et Haec Olim Ameminisse Luvabit." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A joy it will be one day, perhaps, to even remember.
All services will be private.