Gary Michael Mead

Gary Michael Mead, 72, of Galax, VA, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 18, 2019 at his assisted living home.

Gary was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, on June 24, 1946, the son of David and Helen (Harden) Mead.  He majored in Biology at Allegheny College, and then went onto the University of Pittsburgh to obtain his Doctorate in Dental Medicine, before moving to Virginia where he practiced Dentistry for over 30 years. Gary dedicated his life to public service dentistry where he retired from the Virginia Health Department in 2012. Gary loved tinkering in his workshop and long scenic drives seeking treasures to add to his various collections. Those that had the privilege of meeting Gary instantly knew that he was a highly intelligent man who enjoyed a good story and loved even more the sharing of a good story. Gary’s generous heart, bantered humor, nervous chuckle, and plethora of stories will be dearly missed by all.

Gary is survived by two sons Bryan Mead and his wife Stacy of Keller, Texas, Christopher Mead and his wife Kimberly of Austin, Texas, step-daughter Emily Tsang and her husband William (Billy) of Jacksonville, Florida, three grandchildren (Sean, Dylan and Jackson) and three step-grandchildren (Liam, Olivia, and Ashli).  In addition, he is survived by his older brother Dennis Mead and his wife Donna.

In memoriam, there will be a Celebration of Gary’s Life for friends and family near his favorite fishing spot south of Nags Head / the Outer Banks in mid May. Details can be obtained by emailing [email protected] with ‘OBX’ in the subject line. You can also share your favorite stories of Gary by sending an email with ‘Gary’ in the subject line.

Gary was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2017. Lewy Body Dementia has no known cause or cure. The neurological disorder affects parts of the brain that control walking, balance, speech, swallowing, cognition, personality, and behavior. The only way to obtain a confirmed diagnosis is through brain donation.

"In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions in memory of Gary Mead be made to Brain Support Network, PO Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026, www.brainsupportnetwork.org "