Gary Lee Hubler

Gary Lee Hubler, age 73, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 15, 2026 after a brief, but brave battle with an aggressive cancer. Born on December 17, 1952, in Washington, DC, he was the son of the late Dorothy Lou Steele Hubler and the late Lynn Malcom Hubler. Gary grew up in Washington Grove, Maryland, and resided in Gaithersburg, to remain close to home.

His family remembers Gary as a source of strength, knowledge, humor, and courage. He possessed a deeply adventurous nature and lived by the motto to embrace each and every day to its fullest, no matter what challenges he faced. His love for life and family was always evident in everything he did.

Gary accomplished countless remarkable things throughout his lifetime. In 1970, at the age of 17, he was honored as the “Newspaper Carrier of the Year” for delivering the evening and weekend Star Newspaper by bicycle to a massive route of readers. This prestigious honor included a historic, one-on-one meeting with President Richard Nixon in the White House Oval Office.

His leadership traits continued to shine when he served as the State President for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) from 1970 to 1971, traveling to national conventions to proudly represent the state of Maryland. Gary was also a lifetime member of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, dedicated to working 24/7 during fair week in Old MacDonald’s Barn.

While attending the University of Maryland, his adventurous spirit took him across the country and beyond. He spent one summer working as a cattle ranch hand in Montana, and another in St. Thomas doing construction on a new hotel. He was an active member of his college fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho. His achievements at UMD were impressive. He was elected as Rush Chairman, Council Secretary and also elected to the Gate and Key Society and the Kalegathos Society. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor in Science degree in animal science from the university in 1975.

Shortly after graduation, the unthinkable happened when a severe car accident left Gary completely blind. Yet, even in the face of this immense adversity, his spirit remained unbroken. He courageously returned to college to study theology at Southeastern College in Florida. Later, with the assistance of the Maryland Rehabilitation Program, he studied food services. In 1995 he became the proud owner and operator of Gary’s Snack Shop within the Department of Energy in Germantown, Maryland, serving his community for many years until his retirement in 2011.

Gary's extraordinary perseverance earned him a place as an executive member of Who’s Who, and he was featured in several of their publications. His achievements from his teenage years through retirement were deeply impressive and a constant source of inspiration to everyone around him. In his spare time, Gary was a creative soul; he wrote several western short stories and even designed, developed, and patented a board game called Sojourn. He loved old monster movies, classic western television shows and movies and spent many happy hours asking "Alexa" to play his favorite songs.

Everyone who met Gary was instantly captured by his vibrant spirit and wonderful sense of humor.

Gary was the beloved brother to True A. Hubler (deceased), Bradley Clayton, Zana Lynne (Hubler) Hintz, and Mark E. Hubler. He was the cool uncle to Brett Hubler and also to Dylan, Taylor, and Trevor Hintz.

He will be thought of, celebrated, and deeply missed always—until we meet again.

A visitation will be held at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 East Deer Park Dr., Gaithersburg, Maryland on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 pm.

Interment will follow at All Souls Cemetery, 11401 Brink Rd, Germantown, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in his name to the American Foundation for the Blind, 1108 Third Ave., Ste. 200, Huntington, West Virginia 25701, https://afb.org/get-involved/waystogive.