Jerry Dwaine Diltz, 71, of Charleston, died Sunday, January 26, 2020 in CAMC Memorial Hospital, Charleston, WV. He was born October 21, 1948 in Bluefield, WV, a son of the late Bernard Eugene and Mary Frances Ayers Gearheart. Jerry was a U.S. Navy Veteran. After serving his country he became a truck driver, driving for Mercer Marine, and later taught computer skills. He was a pioneer for the Gay Community, loved animals, mostly cats and dogs, an artistic painter, and loved his coca-cola. Survivors include a daughter, Jerri Lynn Diltz Hayes and her boyfriend, Alex Mionie of Georgia; step-mother, Marion Gearheart of Tampa, FL; sisters, Dee Kiefer of Bradenton, FL, Lisa Johnson of Dayton, OH, and Jerri Ann Fisher of Middle River, MD; brothers, Anthony Gearheart, Rick Gearheart, and James Gearheart; nieces, Lindsey Riddle and Lacie Lawson of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH; and friends, Raymond Green and Barry Macciocca of Charleston, WV. Per his request he will be cremated, and inurnment will be in the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar, WV.