Gary Lane Delp, 73, of Valdese, passed away in his home on April 13th, 2023 after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born on June 1st, 1949 in Saltville, VA to Carl (Foot) and Hattie Delp.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, son Chad (wife, Tennile), and daughter Leigh Ann Delp. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bill Delp, sisters Doris Doyle & Donna Barr. In addition, he is survived by brothers Charlie, Johnny and Tony Delp, sisters Janie Sword and Kay Anderson. Also surviving are numerous in-laws, nieces & nephews.
Gary graduated from Saltville RB Worthy High School in 1967. He then earned a Fine Arts Degree at East Tennessee State University. While in college, he met and married his wife, Phyllis.
After graduation, Gary, and Phyllis moved to Valdese NC to pursue teaching careers. Gary taught Pottery and Art for 30 years at Freedom High School. He also served as Head Soccer Coach throughout much of his teaching career. He was well known for his pottery, particularly his face jugs.
In his two decades of retirement, Gary loved gardening in his yard with Phyllis, and visiting his children in Paris and Honolulu. He was an avid golfer and soccer fan, attending numerous soccer matches around the world. In addition, he served as a Councilman for the Valdese Town Council for 10 years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Burke County Friends for Animals, as he was also a loving father to many pets over the years.
Gary was a cherished husband, father, brother, teacher and friend, having a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of all who knew him. He had an unmatched sense of humor and a true zest for life. A celebration of his life will be held in June. He will be forever loved and remembered.
An online guestbook and obituary are available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com
Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory is assisting the family.
We were blessed to have Gary as a part of the family. When we visited N.C., he would share stories his life adventures with us, and made us laugh.
He was a kind and thoughtful man and a wonderful uncle. He will be greatly missed.
Just wanted to say thank you to a special person. He took time from his busy schedule to help us out of a bad situation. He was that kind of a person that always went the extra mile in helping someone in need and will be greatly missed. I owe him gratitude and thanks forever from the bottom of my heart and will always cherish the memories of him. (( A true warrior of Christ )).
Miss you pal!
Moved here in aug of 81 and joined the team at Freedom, also loved the artistic freedom that we had in class. We had the best teacher and coach in the county. We will miss you my friend. God Bless the family
David Rakestraw
Class of 82
Peace and love to my friend and fellow councilman. You had a knack for compassionately doing small things for others that had a large impact on their lives, including mine.
Coach Delp was an excellent man and made a great team with my Dad Leonard Jedrzejewski. Together they where a combination of skill and intelligence. Without Coach Delp, Freedom may have dropped the Soccer program entirely. All players owe Coach Delp gratitude for his efforts and for being a great and fantastic person. Many of my foundest memories are those wonderful days of youth filled with Coach Delp and his unique style and class. Now you and my Dad can coach together again in heaven.
I laugh when I think about the good times we shared rip my friend
One of my favorite teachers. I have thought of you often through the years. I hope you are whole and healthy once again. May you rest in eternal happiness, peace and joy.
Gary Delp was an easy father-in-law to love. His HUGE heart was filled with the type of pure kindness that I don’t even find often in nice people. When Gary visited Honolulu, his top priorities were always eating his favorite fancy shaved ice from Island Vintage and taking naps under a palm tree at Waikiki beach. He would also be sure to purchase cans of dogfood for pet companions of homeless people and give them cigarettes to brighten their day – these recipients would continuously bow their heads with a smile and were SO THANKFUL! Gary always saw the big picture. He embraced actions that he knew would positively impact people and definitely animals. I’m fortunate to have met him and proud to be his daughter-in-law. It’s comforting to know he is relaxing in heaven, eating TONS of shave ice, sneaking tid bits of food to his pets, taking beach front naps before his golf tee time, making face jugs galore, and watching Major League Soccer from above! Love you ALWAYS Gary!!!
Thinking of you all during this difficult time. May wonderful memories of him wrap around your hearts.
Gary Delp
What a friend ! Compassionate! Leader! Coach! And any other word that expresses admiration and respect to a wonderful person.
One of my favorite Teachers 6 grade Valdese Elementary school 1973 one of the best
While on Freedom soccer team one time we got absolutely demolished by Hickory away game / afterwards we stopped for ice cream at a Dairy Queen or something and when we got back to Morganton Coach Delp called us all together and said I am so proud of you guys. I was like huh how could this be we lost terribly. He said when we were all in line at the ice cream place an elderly lady had come in and we immediately said ma’am you can go in front of us. I’ll never forget that to this day .. Coach Delp taught me that character is the most important thing not winning or losing.
Mr. Delp was my high school pottery teacher. He exhibited patience and a canny sense of humor despite my shortcomings as a student. He is one of several teachers I can recall over the years that really knew what it meant to be a teacher in the sense of the word. FHS and the learning community are a better place because of Gary Delp.
Mr. Delp was my art teacher at Valdese JR High school. He was a great person, someone I could go to as a teenager and he listened. Cancer has taken too many from my life and my prayers go out to the family.
So sorry to hear this. He was my home room teacher at Freedom may GOD wrap his arms around the family