Wayne E. Gill, aged 54, of Waynesboro, passed away on Friday, January 19, 2024, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Born on December 23, 1969, in Hinton, West Virginia, he was the beloved son of Jimmy and Ina Gill, who survive him. Wayne is also survived by his devoted wife, Theresa Gill; his son, Nathan Grimm, and daughter-in-law, Britney; his daughter, Lindsay Gill-Dinofrio, and son-in-law, Chris; his brother, Michael Gill, and sister-in-law, Carrie; his sister, Janet Sweet, and brother-in-law, Coe; along with three nieces. He leaves behind cherished memories with his four grandchildren, Corbin, Montana, Ryleigh, and Ellie, and his beloved dog, Bandit.
Wayne spent his earlier years in Tampa, Florida, with his family before settling in Waynesboro, Virginia. He attended Waynesboro High School and later pursued his education at Blue Ridge Community College. On September 10, 1994, in Waynesboro, Virginia, he exchanged vows with Theresa Vangundy.
An avid outdoorsman, Wayne found solace and joy in activities such as hunting, deep-sea fishing, and anything related to space. Renowned for his boundless kindness, he often professed that "a stranger is just someone you haven't met," effortlessly making friends with everyone he encountered. Wayne had an unwavering love for all creatures and was always ready to rescue any stray in need.
As a skilled welder and fabricator, Wayne poured his heart into expressing his creativity through crafting unique pieces. With proficiency in technical work, he held a special fondness for automotive and machinery projects. His ingenuity shone brightly through the design of an award-winning 1920 Super Six Essex, "RatRod," and earned him recognition from NASA for his contributions to robotic arm design.
Wayne's passion for space exploration was deeply rooted in him from childhood, and he passed this fascination on to his children. In honoring his lifelong dream of venturing into space, his family chose the Celestis service to fulfill his wish posthumously.
