Gary Lynn Wilfong, 73, of Rainelle went to his eternal home on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, following a sudden illness. Born on June 18, 1952, in Elkins WV, he was the son of the late Roscoe Thomas and Viola (Harris) Wilfong.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Henry Page and Hazel Mae (Coughlin) Franklin, his son Jeremy Duran Wilfong, four sisters Ruth Elaine Williams, Kathleen E. Wilson, Vonda Jean Walker, Juanita Marie Hall; sisters-in-law, Peggy (Larson) Wilfong and Peggy (Selvey) Franklin; brothers-in-law, Dewey Williams, Clarence “Willy” Wilson, Fred Walker, Roger Lee Walkup, James A. Coughlin, Jr. and Bernard P. Franklin; nieces and nephews, Barbara Westfall, Teresa, David, and Michael Williams, Julie Wilson and Chris Crookshanks.
Gary attended Rupert Junior High and Greenbrier West High School. He loved to play basketball, football, playing horseshoes, cooking and horseback riding. Gary had four horses, Patches, Dutchess, Sass and Sapphire and one dog, Athena with each of whom he had a special attachment. If you ever wondered where he was, just look for his animals and you could find him. They followed him wherever he went. He was a “legendary” hunter and marksman. Gary also loved to draw and was blessed with the ability to be able to draw anything he wanted. He was also blessed with the ability to be able to build and create anything he imagined, building toys for the kids, log cabins, making bows and arrows, parts for the car and the list goes on. Gary had a brown belt in karate, receiving his training at Chuck Norris Studios in Huntington. For a number of years he was “Mr. Mom” but prior to that he was employed by Peerless Packing where he was a butcher and shipping clerk. Gary then worked for Frye Construction Company as a carpenter. He was a very devoted and loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He was often seen smiling the most when surrounded by family and friends while he cooked and grilled for them, as he was very passionate about his cooking.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Twila Kay (Franklin) Wilfong; daughter Heather Dawn (Tommy) Lizotte, son Eric Lyon (Jennifer) Franklin all of Rainelle; sister Fayetta Walkup of Lewisburg; brothers, Boyd Lee (Laura) Wilfong of Illinois, Fred Allen (Shirley) Wilfong of Wisconsin, and Thomas Dwight (Thelma) Wilfong of Virginia; sisters-in-law Tina Coughlin of Tennessee, Sherry Franklin of Charmco; brothers-in-law, George Hall of Rainelle, Greg (Angie) Franklin of Charmco, Doug (Sandy) Franklin of Rainelle, and Ronald “Bub” Crookshanks of Rainelle; grandchildren, Hannah Dawn Wilfong (Jordan Mink), Emma Grace Hylton (Luis Ramos) all of Kentucky, Joshua Alexander Franklin (Alexis Dolin) of Rainelle, Kaitlin Marie Franklin (Mathew Waid) of Cornstalk, Kayla Anne (CK) Yates of Meadow Bridge, Kirstie Renee Keister (Troy Burdette), Walter Lizotte, Tommy Lizotte, Jr. (Cherish) all of Rainelle; great-grandchildren, Megan Elizabeth and Emory Jordan Mink, Amelia Grace Waid, Rylee Payge and Kaiden Charles Yates, and Karlie Alexis Walker; nieces and nephews, David (Denise) Wilfong, Jeff (Tammy) Wilfong, Elizabeth (Patrick) Warden, Keith (Mary) Wilson, Diane Spisak (Dan), Sue (Rick)Mondelli, Ellen (Carl) Gewalt all of Chicago, Shirlette Campbell (Gary) of Nitro, Tim (Teresa) Walkup, Jerry (Tina) Walkup, Matthew Walkup and Lisa of Delaware, Cheryl Hall of Rainelle, Crystal Ledford of North Carolina, Chris (Vanessa) Wilfong and Patty Faye (Al) Watson, and Joyce Williams of Georgia, Thomas (Nadine) Wilfong of Virginia, Whitney (Gary) Elder of Fayetteville, Ryan (Crystal) Crookshanks of Russellville, and Brandon Franklin of Charmco; many great-nieces and nephews; and extended family and friends.
Service will be at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, at Wallace & Wallace Chapel, Rainelle. Friends may gather with the family from 5 until 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a local church or a local animal shelter or a charity of your choice in memory of Gary L. Wilfong.
