Mr. Paul Douglas Irby, age 70 of Gladys, passed away on July 14, 2022 in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was the son of the late Paul Irby and Geneva Honig Irby.

Doug grew up in the Gladys/Brookneal area on the Irby Family Farm where he learned the value and discipline of hard work at a young age, getting up very early before school to milk the cows, in addition to the responsibilities of many other chores. He graduated from William Campbell High School in 1970 and as part of his course work helped build the current athletic fields. Doug was an auto mechanic for over 50 years, starting to learn and work that trade in high school. He worked for Steve Williams in the early years and later worked at the old Brookneal Exxon for 25 years until it closed. Following, he worked for Detra Carr at Carr's Used Parts as a mechanic until complications from extensive heart surgery left him without his right leg in 2013, returning to work there after rehab as the office manager until his retirement at the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Doug loved cars and auto racing and, for many years, drag raced very successfully, including appearing in races on ESPN, throughout the eastern half of the United States, known as "The Virginia Gentleman." At the time of his death, he was working on getting a car ready for the drag strip.

Doug was also a skilled amateur horticulturist and growing plants was another passion.

Since moving to his home with his wife, Annabel, Doug was materially involved in the breeding, raising and training of Cardigan Welsh Corgis under the Cavalier prefix. He loved going to dog shows, especially the Cardigan National Specialties, watching the dogs, meeting new people and enjoying the company of the Cardigans. He fell in love with the blue merle color and motivated Annabel to breed the first Cavalier "blue" litter in 2020. Doug reveled in watching his blue puppies "float" across the yard and was not at all surprised by their successes in the show ring over the last 18 months, although his health prevented him from attending shows and watching them compete in person.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his nephew, Timothy Douglas Irby, whom he had welcomed into his home with Annabel, as a teenager.

He is survived by his wife, Annabel Irene Maley of Gladys; stepsons, Michael Deaner and Justin Deaner, both of Nathalie and nephew, Jacob Banton of Lynchburg, all of whom Doug helped raise; sisters, Gayle Irby of Rustburg and Patricia Irby of Gladys; brothers, Michael Irby of Gladys and Timothy Irby of Brookneal; special nieces, Bethany Strickland of Gretna, Crystal Ramsey of Rustburg and Lilly Irby; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi National Rescue Trust.