Gertrude Andrews

Gertrude Andrews
of Vestal
On Tuesday, August 5, 2008, the spirit of Gertrude Andrews departed from her earthly body in which she lived for 103 years. She was welcomed by the spirit of her husband, The Rev. Clarence L. Andrews, who had gone to be with God in 1968. In the early years of her life she lived in Dorranceton, Pa., where her husband, a Wyoming Seminary student, met her in the Dorranceton Methodist Church. After their marriage and a year in Boston where Clarence continued his study for the ministry, he was appointed pastor of the Litchfield, Pa. Methodist Church, where their only child Arthur was born. Through the next 40 years he continued his life work as a Methodist pastor of the Wyoming Conference serving churches in Castle Creek, Camptown, West Nanticoke, Wyoming, Montrose, Cooperstown, Mountain Top, Duryea, Providence Scranton, Luzerne, and Oxford. After retiring in 1967, Gertrude and Clarence lived at Heart Lake where he died suddenly at the age of 66. After his death, Gertrude lived in the Montrose area before moving to Vestal to be near her son and wife, and then lived in the Hilltop Methodist Retirement Center, until she came to live the last 6 years of her life with her son and wife in their home. During the years that her husband was a pastor, she was not only a homemaker and mother, but served as church secretary, hostess and devotional leader to many church groups. In each place, she left people whose lives were blessed by her friendship and caring. Throughout her life she created beautiful works of art in ceramics, oil painting, and home decorating. Gertrude was a member of the Vestal United Methodist Church, and the Montrose Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. Gertrude, through her son Arthur and his wife Ruth, gave life, love, and an inspiring example to three grandchildren and their spouses, Mark and Sandra Andrews, Timothy Andrews, Rebecca and Keith Harrison; and to her great-grandchildren, Kristin Andrews, Craig Andrews and his wife Sarah, Diane, Tony, Sarah, and Hugh Andrews, Melinda and Emily Harrison.
Private burial will take place at the convenience of the family. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, August 15, at 11a.m. in the Vestal United Methodist Church. The family may be visited at the church beginning at 10 a.m. The service will be led by her Pastor, The Rev. Michael Willis, assisted by The Rev. John Goodell. Contributions in her memory may be sent to the Memorial Fund of the Vestal United Methodist Church, 328 Main St., Vestal, N.Y. 13850.