1925
Gertrude
2015
Gertrude Agnes Gasper Frye
January 28, 1925 — February 22, 2015
View Tribute VideoGertrude Agnes Gasper Frye (a.k.a. Gert, GG, Trouble), 90, passed away in the early morning hours of February 22, 2015. She was the loving wife of the late Durward G. Frye for 59 years until his passing in January 2010.
Gert was born January 28, 1925, in Blair Four, Pa. to George and Catherine Gasper, and was the youngest of thirteen children. The family moved from Blair Four to Blairton, W. Va. when Gert was five years old. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Martinsburg, W. Va. in 1943 as class Valedictorian. Gert was an athlete in her younger days, playing basketball and softball for the high school teams.
Gert married Durward Frye on August 26, 1950, and the family relocated to Lynchburg in 1951. She was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, a member of the Ladies of Charity Circle, and was a Minister of the Eucharist. She was an ardent supporter of Holy Cross Catholic School.
Gert loved the outdoors, spending much of her time in her gardens and yard, and was a certified Master Gardener. At times she combined her athleticism with this love by climbing 30 foot tall cedar trees to hang Christmas lights, and climbed apple trees while six months pregnant to trim out dead limbs, etc. She enjoyed taking visitors for walks through her yard to see her many flowerbeds and vegetable garden. She loved the snow, often telling her children to not track through the front yard and making a mess.
She also loved being in the kitchen, baking rum cakes, walnut crescents, and other items to give as gifts and to sell at many Church bake sales.
Gert was a welcoming person with many friends and very few “acquaintances.” A common statement about Gert is how she made everyone feel welcome in her home and part of her family. She could be both rebellious and obstinate, with the staff of The Summit Rehab facility giving her the nickname “Trouble” for not following orders.
In addition to her parents and husband, Gert is predeceased by her son, Gary D. Frye; daughter, Shirley Frye Jones; great-granddaughter, Makaelyn Belle Staples; eight sisters, Mary, Kate, Anna, Sister Emerita (Susan), Margaret, Liz, Helen and Ethel; and two brothers, John and George.
She is survived by her children, Elaine F. Powers (Bill), J. Dennis Frye (Glenda), D. Leonard Frye (Valerie), and C. Gayle Frye Buchanan (Dave). She is also survived by twelve grandchildren, Kathy Thomas, Greg Frye, Marc Dufort, Nicole Overstreet, Sherri Mumaw, Dori Chelland, Lauren Frye, Matthew Frye, Nicholas Frye, Jessica Frye, David Buchanan, and Katie Buchanan; as well as sixteen great-grandchildren. Also surviving Gert are two brothers, Joseph Gasper and Thomas Gasper, both of Martinsburg, W. Va.; a special sister-in-law, Hazel Lewis of Pikeside, W. Va.; daughter-in-law, Gloria Frye; and son-in-law, Richard Jones. There are far too many nieces and nephews to name.
As Gertrude was a lover of all things green and colorful, it would be thoughtful to send flowers of your choice if you wish. Otherwise, please consider a donation to Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, 2125 Langhorne Road, Lynchburg, Va. 24502 (https://hcrs-va.org/?page_id=233) or the JOY Fund at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 710 Clay Street, Lynchburg, Va. 24504.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2015, at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 am on Friday, February 27, 2015, at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Father James Gallagher officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
View Tribute Video
Gert was born January 28, 1925, in Blair Four, Pa. to George and Catherine Gasper, and was the youngest of thirteen children. The family moved from Blair Four to Blairton, W. Va. when Gert was five years old. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Martinsburg, W. Va. in 1943 as class Valedictorian. Gert was an athlete in her younger days, playing basketball and softball for the high school teams.
Gert married Durward Frye on August 26, 1950, and the family relocated to Lynchburg in 1951. She was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, a member of the Ladies of Charity Circle, and was a Minister of the Eucharist. She was an ardent supporter of Holy Cross Catholic School.
Gert loved the outdoors, spending much of her time in her gardens and yard, and was a certified Master Gardener. At times she combined her athleticism with this love by climbing 30 foot tall cedar trees to hang Christmas lights, and climbed apple trees while six months pregnant to trim out dead limbs, etc. She enjoyed taking visitors for walks through her yard to see her many flowerbeds and vegetable garden. She loved the snow, often telling her children to not track through the front yard and making a mess.
She also loved being in the kitchen, baking rum cakes, walnut crescents, and other items to give as gifts and to sell at many Church bake sales.
Gert was a welcoming person with many friends and very few “acquaintances.” A common statement about Gert is how she made everyone feel welcome in her home and part of her family. She could be both rebellious and obstinate, with the staff of The Summit Rehab facility giving her the nickname “Trouble” for not following orders.
In addition to her parents and husband, Gert is predeceased by her son, Gary D. Frye; daughter, Shirley Frye Jones; great-granddaughter, Makaelyn Belle Staples; eight sisters, Mary, Kate, Anna, Sister Emerita (Susan), Margaret, Liz, Helen and Ethel; and two brothers, John and George.
She is survived by her children, Elaine F. Powers (Bill), J. Dennis Frye (Glenda), D. Leonard Frye (Valerie), and C. Gayle Frye Buchanan (Dave). She is also survived by twelve grandchildren, Kathy Thomas, Greg Frye, Marc Dufort, Nicole Overstreet, Sherri Mumaw, Dori Chelland, Lauren Frye, Matthew Frye, Nicholas Frye, Jessica Frye, David Buchanan, and Katie Buchanan; as well as sixteen great-grandchildren. Also surviving Gert are two brothers, Joseph Gasper and Thomas Gasper, both of Martinsburg, W. Va.; a special sister-in-law, Hazel Lewis of Pikeside, W. Va.; daughter-in-law, Gloria Frye; and son-in-law, Richard Jones. There are far too many nieces and nephews to name.
As Gertrude was a lover of all things green and colorful, it would be thoughtful to send flowers of your choice if you wish. Otherwise, please consider a donation to Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, 2125 Langhorne Road, Lynchburg, Va. 24502 (https://hcrs-va.org/?page_id=233) or the JOY Fund at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 710 Clay Street, Lynchburg, Va. 24504.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2015, at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 am on Friday, February 27, 2015, at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Father James Gallagher officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
View Tribute Video
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gertrude Agnes Gasper Frye, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors