John Grady DeVilbiss

John Grady DeVilbiss (71) of Radford, Virginia, bravely and faithfully departed this earthly life on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at his home, with his wife and children by his side. 

Grady is survived by his wife, Gail Cook DeVilbiss, and their three children, Victoria, John, and David DeVilbiss. Grady’s parents, John Edward and Virginia G. DeVilbiss, and his brother, Richard (“Dickie”) DeVilbiss predeceased him in death. Grady lived a full and complete life, and devoted to God, faith, family, friends, first responder brotherhood, masonic family, church, and community. Grady’s life, family, faith, personal and professional career successes and accomplishments during his life, are quite frankly too numerous to list.

Grady’s professional service and employment careers spanned decades and began as a fire fighter and rescue responder with the Radford City Fire and Rescue Department. Later Grady was employed as a hazardous materials officer with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Services. Grady continued to serve in various public and private employment capacities and service roles as an emergency response preparer, planner, and coordinator, over the years, with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Oliver, Inc., Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Tech, American Red Cross, and Radford University, and BAE Systems, Inc.

Grady worshipped at Unity Christian Church. Grady joyfully gave, received, and sought support and guidance in his commitment and faith in God, and daily celebrated and shared his faith and love with all his wonderful friends and family. Grady was a member of the Radford Virginia May Masonic Lodge, 38. Grady was so proud and honored to have received a 50-year service award for volunteer services with the Radford City Fire and EMS department.

Grady was also one heck of a great storyteller, and yes sometimes he stretched the truth a bit, but that made all of his stories so wonderful and captivating. Grady’s children and friends have spent countless hours at our family dining table listening to Grady share his stories of all of his life adventures and good times. Even if Grady had told the same story a couple of times in the past, or the facts changed a bit, Grady’s loving children and friends hung on every word, and laughed with and adored Grady’s famous tales each and every time.

As our children and I struggled with what to say and include in preparing this difficult message to share with each of you on Grady’s passing, I told a dear friend, we just need to say…. To know Grady was to love him.

My friend agreed, to know Grady was to love him and she sent me the following message about how Grady lived his life, and his legacy, “Absolutely, We toasted him last night. He had a heart for taking care of everyone he knew and those he didn’t. He was the first person to show up for any need in his family, with his friends and anyone in our community. We are committed to carry on his legacy of helping all.”

Grady was a good man, a devoted husband, amazing father, brother, son, friend, colleague, and always grateful and appreciated all his blessings. Grady lived to serve others, and instilled his high standards of faith, devotion, love of life, community, commitment, and duty, which are the life standards he lived by and the greatest gifts he gave to the world, and to his three children, Victoria, John, and David. Grady shared his love of life and service with everyone he knew and those that touched Grady and his family’s lives during Grady’s wonderful, happy, bountiful, dutiful, faith filled, blessed, courageous, selflessness, loving and kind amazing journey Grady took during and through his beautiful lifetime. Grady is our hero, and we will love him forever.

Yes, to know Grady was to love him and a blessing to every person whose life he touched. While our hearts and spirits may be broken today, we are all so blessed to have loved and lived with this wonderful man. Grady touched all our lives in countless ways, and his teachings and life’s work was dedicated and steadfast, full of kindness, love, faith, friendship, devotion, happiness, compassion, positive attitude, hard work, high standards and ethics, service unto others, and courage are the attributes that will always be our inspiration, our shining light, to guide us through the good and the bad days ahead, until we can all be together again in the Kingdom of God.

We know each of you who knew Grady have stories to share and tell us about Grady. We ask you to please share and send us all your stories and memories of Grady. We want each of you to remember all the good, fun, and happy times you had with Grady, and to keep them close to all our hearts, as we all struggle with Grady’s passing.

Celebrate Grady’s life and be at peace. Grady is now in the loving arms of his Lord, and his savior, Jesus Christ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Grady’s honor to the Radford Volunteer Fire Department at 1500 Wadsworth Street, Radford, Virginia, 24141, or to Unity Christian Church, at 400 Tyler Avenue, Radford, Virginia 24141.

Visitation for Grady is Friday, August 9, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Blue Ridge Church and the funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 10:00 am at Blue Ridge Church. Blue Ridge Church is located at 1655 Roanoke Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073.