Bertha A. Erhardt

LAKE GEORGE Bertha A. Erhardt, 95, of Flat Rock Road, Lake George, passed away Friday, June 6, 2008, at Glens Falls Hospital. Born in Boston, Mass., on Sept. 16, 1912, Bertha was the daughter of the late Paul and Beatrice Emily (Newcombe) Adams. Bertha received her early education in Dorchester, Mass. and graduated in Valley Stream, Long Island. Bertha married Edgar A. Erhardt of Inwood, Long Island in 1936, in his hometown. They moved to Lake George in the early 1940s, where Edgar became a very successful electrical contractor for nearly 40 years. Bertha lost her deeply loved husband, Edgar to the Lord on July 8, 1978 after 42 years of marriage. After the birth of their first son, Bertha became a stay-at-home mom. Once her nest was empty, Bertha worked for Sears in Queensbury for several years in the catalog sales and was a top sales producer. The saying, "could sell an Eskimo an ice box" fit Bertha to a tee. Bertha was an exceptionally gifted seamstress, learning her craft from her father and her uncle in Dorchester, Mass., both of whom were master guild tailors. She enjoyed all forms of sewing, including quilting, and especially enjoyed making teddy bears and all their outfits. She also enjoyed stenciling and painting. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Powell Adams and his wife, Helene of Lake George, and Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.) William Adams, of Las Vegas, Nev. Also one sister, Beatrice Adams of Jackson Heights, New York City and Sunnyvale, Calif. Survivors include Bertha's four sons: Brian E. Erhardt and his wife, Cathy, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Roger W. Erhardt, Dale W. Erhardt and Bruce A. Erhardt, all of Lake George. She is survived by one sister, Elizabeth Bryant and her husband, Richard; one brother, Albert Adams of Sunnyvale, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Margaret Adams of Las Vegas, Nev.; two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and grandnieces. Calling hours will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at the Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury. Funeral services will follow the calling hours at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Richard C. Leonard, pastor of the Warrensburg Free Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Birch Avenue, Lake George. Condolences may be e-mailed through the funeral home at www.bakerfuneralhome.com or mailed to Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804.