Gary Francis Eaton (1933 – 2025)

Gary Francis Eaton, 91, passed away on April 8, 2025, at Lavender Hills Senior Living in Front Royal, Virginia, with his devoted wife by his side.

Gary Francis Eaton

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, at Maddox Funeral Home in Front Royal, Virginia, and burial will be at Panorama Memorial Gardens at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15.  Pastor Mark Johnson and Pastor James Boyette will officiate.  The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the funeral home.

Gary was born on Friday, October 13, 1933, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, to Donald Francis Eaton and Anna Marie Watkins Eaton.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 71 years, Naomi Davis Eaton; his daughter, Gayle Schaeffer, and husband Ritchie of Front Royal; grandson Andrew Schaeffer and wife Casey of Middletown, Virginia; and great-grandson Trenton Schaeffer of Middletown.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Donna Clatterbuck; his stepfather, Charles Cullers; and his stepmother, Louise Eaton.

Gary was hard-working early on as a farmhand and driving a school bus at the young age of 15.  He graduated from Warren County High School in 1953, serving as president of the FFA for two years. He married Naomi Davis in October of that year.

Gary was employed at Southern States in Leesburg, Virginia, before being drafted into the army. He served from 1956 to 1958 and was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and then at the 29th Evacuation Hospital at Fort Devons, Massachusetts, as a personnel administration specialist. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in July 1958.

Upon his return to Virginia, he enrolled at Roller Business College. After graduation, he became Supervisor of Transportation for Warren County Public Schools, serving in this position from 1960 to 1991. He was also an insurance agent for Nationwide Insurance and a real estate broker.

In 1971, he established Eaton Motor Sales.  After retiring from Warren County Public Schools, he worked there six days a week until 2020.  He retired from Eaton Motor Sales at 87 years of age. His grandson, Andrew, now runs the business.

Some people work to live, but Gary lived to work.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children – Proverbs 13:22.

Trenton Schaeffer, Willie Reynolds, John Megee, JR King, Tim Fitzgerald, and Mike Seekford will be pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to Buckton Presbyterian Church, 2315 Strasburg Road, Front Royal, VA 22630.