Gertrude Eccles Ulrich

Gertrude Eccles Ulrich

CHANCE — Gertrude Edith Marjorie Eccles Ulrich, 84, died Thursday, April 14, 2011, at her home in Chance. Her four daughters were with her as she passed on.

Born in 1926 in Baltimore, she was the only child of George Eccles and Madeline Watsic Eccles. Having served in World War I, her father re-enlisted in the Navy during World War II. She was volunteering at a USO in Charleston, S.C., when she met her future husband, William Smith Ulrich Jr., who was himself on shore leave.

After high school, Gert attended nursing school and was a 1947 graduate of the Hospital for the Women of Maryland in Baltimore. She worked as a registered nurse at Women's Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital and, after taking time off to have children, went back to work at Baltimore County General Hospital.

In the 1970s, she returned to school and earned her bachelor's degree at St. Mary's College near Emmitsburg, Md. When she retired in 1986, she was the assistant director of nursing at BCGH.

Gert was an active member of her community. She was a past Matron of Arlington Chapter 13, Order of the Eastern Star. She was a Girl Scout leader in the 1960s and an active member of the PTA. When she moved to Chance more than 30 years ago, she became active in the Ladies Auxiliary for American Legion Post 94 (OT Beauchamp) in Princess Anne. She was a member of the Deal Island Chance Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and a former member of the Lioness Club.

Gert was known for her friendly and outgoing nature and her caring heart. She would strike up a conversation with anyone and make friends on the spot. She was especially concerned with the well-being of the members of the U.S. armed forces stationed overseas and organized several care package drives during the past few years.

Gert was predeceased by her husband of 53 years in 1999.

She is survived by all four of her daughters, SueKay Ulrich of Chance; Midge Ulrich Andras and her husband, Rudy, of Erie, Colo.; Joyce L. Ulrich and her husband, Hank Stewart, of Baltimore; and Mary Ulrich Dart and her husband, Steve, of Emmitsburg; grandchildren, William Andras, Megan Andras Almanza, Rebecca Andras, Emily Andras, Rachel Andras, Louise Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart, Elizabeth Dart, Alison Dart, Miriam Dart and Olivia Dart; and two great-granddaughters, Cecilia and Lilian Almanza.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Hinman Funeral Home in Princess Anne, where friends may call from noon-2 p.m. Interment will be in Beechwood Cemetery in Princess Anne.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gert's memory may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Fla. 33607.

To leave condolences, please visit hinmanfuneralhome.com.