Paul Garry Black

Paul Garry Black, 89, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Monday, December 8, 2025.
The son of Mary Isabella Black and Herman Urquhart Black, Paul was born on May 4, 1936, in Roanoke, Va. Other than time spent in Yuma, Arizona during World War II, where his father was an instructor at the United States Army Air Corps base, Paul lived in the Roanoke Valley for most of his life.
He graduated from William Byrd High School in 1954 and attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets. More interested in getting on with the business side of life than academics, Paul left VPI and joined the Champion Spark Plug Company of Akron, Ohio, where he became one of the company's top salesmen.
Ever fascinated by anything automotive, Paul observed that in the 1960s, there was a need for an automotive parts store on the north side of Roanoke. In 1968, he left Champion and started his own business, Ace Auto Parts, Inc., a NAPA store, in Hollins. He named it Ace because he wanted the first listing in the Yellow Pages. Paul grew the stores to four locations across the valley, including a full automotive machine shop on Williamson Road.
In the early 1980s, Paul sold the auto parts stores and started a new venture, Ace Sales, Inc., which focused on the repair, reconditioning, and sale of heavy construction equipment, especially tracked rock drills, compressors, and other equipment used in the quarrying and road building industries. He operated that business until he sold it in the late 1990s, when he retired. Paul loved antique cars, and he had a gift for restoring them. Two of the cars he restored, a 1940 Ford Convertible and 1950 Ford Crestliner, are now in antique car museums. A favorite memory of his was driving the 1940 Ford at top speed around the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Paul was active with the Antique Automobile Club of America, and he collected Ford Motor Company memorabilia throughout his life. He was a regular at the Hershey, Pennsylvania antique auto show, which he attended for decades, often with dear friends Pete Plunkett and Aubrey Moles, who have also passed.
Paul was known for his wit and humor, and the many homespun sayings that he passed on to his friends and family. A natural born salesman and storyteller, Paul could talk with anyone, whether an entry level employee or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Paul enjoyed serving his community, especially the Hollins area, where he was a two-term member of the Roanoke County School Board. He also served on the Roanoke County Board of Equalization in years' past. He was active in state and local Republican politics most of his adult life, and many candidates benefitted from his support and encouragement. A favorite gathering was his Wednesday night eating group, which included Ralph Smith, "The Jones Boys" (Bill, Bud, and Bob), Jack Browning, Kelly Kreyling, and Mike Bailey among others.
Paul's legacy continues in his children with his first wife Barbara, Paul Markham Black (Bobbie) and Mary Black Way (Tom); grandchildren, Catherine Way Stone (Rob), Lizzie Black Pogue (Franklin), Madeline Sloan Way (Ray), Anna Black Rogers (Jack), and Gracie Black Healy (Tommy); and eight great-grandchildren. Paul is also survived by his wife, Evelyn Akers Black; and her daughter, Debra Shepperson (Lee); sister, Frances Black Haggerty; and several nieces and nephews.
His sister, Barbara Black Robey (Bill), predeceased him, as did his close, life-long friend, Jim Starr.
He was a devoted father, husband, son, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and he will be truly missed.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Oakey's North Chapel on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be considered to Enon Baptist Church, 7971 Williamson Road, Roanoke, VA 24019 or to a charity of one's choice. Condolences may be made online at www.Oakeys.com.
Arrangements by Oakey's Funeral Service - North Chapel, Roanoke, VA (540) 362-1237.