Gerald Richard Spaeth

It is with great sorrow we announce that Gerald (Gerry) Spaeth, 84, of Hedgesville, WV, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully at the VA Hospital in Martinsburg, WV, on Friday, February 20, 2026 surrounded by the love of his wife Pat and sons Clayton and Scott.

Gerry was a pragmatic, carefree soul. He enjoyed life, made friends easily and kept them throughout his lifetime. He possessed great wit, earned the name "conversation kid" in the workplace and "chatterbox" at home. He loved to fish, hunt, and watch Sunday football with his sons.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Gerry never finished his high school education after the death of his father who died at the early age of 43. He decided to forgo his education in order to help his mother build financial stability and thus began his career with General Motors where after 30 years, he retired at the age of 49. During this time, Gerry and Pat were married, and he served in the U.S. Army.

Gerry developed a deep love of cars thanks to his father. Despite lacking a formal education, his father was a skilled 'hands-on' mechanic who taught Gerry everything he knew. Gerry began customizing cars, and when his body could no longer physically meet the challenge, at the age of 60 he began a new hobby – sculpting with car parts. This led to a ten-year tenure at Tamarack, West Virginia's premier fine arts gallery.

Although Gerry was dyslexic that affected his learning skills, the disability served him well as his intuitive and cognitive nature strengthened his creativity, spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. Scott looked up to his father as his hero, mentor and idol. Clayton described his father's easy-going nature and unpretentious persona as defining characteristics. Gerry's legacy is best defined by the strong moral compass he instilled in his sons, a quality which brought him great pride.

Gerry is survived by his beloved wife Pat of 63 years, his sons Clayton (Melissa) and Scott (partner Linda), sister-in-law to Joan (Leonard), brother-in-law to Barbara Tarbox (Glenn), granddaughters Payton and Julia, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents Leo J. and Bertha A. Spaeth, Gerry was predeceased by brothers Leonard (Joan) and Ronald (Frances), nephews Douglas and James, sister-in-law Susan Squire (David White), brother-in-law William R. Squire. Arrangements have been entrusted to Direct Cremation Services of Virginia. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.