Gertrude Meyer

Gertrude E. Meyer, 98, of West Point died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.

She was born June 2, 1914, in the parsonage at White Hall, Texas, to the Rev. G. Christian and Esther (Kaspar) Albers. She grew up in Honey Grove, Texas. After high school graduation she worked at home helping with her siblings. In 1937, she found a job in a private home as a housekeeper and maid but eventually ventured to Fort Worth, Texas, to live with her sister. She took a secretarial course and began working for the Brandt Upholstering Company. When World War II broke out, she and her sister, Irma, joined the U.S. Navy (WAVES) in July 1943. She attended basic training at Hunter College in New York and Yeoman Training at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. She and her sister were then stationed in Washington, D.C., where she served as a secretary for the Family Allowance Division. It was through church activities there that she met Frederic Meyer, also stationed in Washington in the U.S. Army. They were married on May 27, 1945, in Washington, D.C., by her brother, the Rev. Victor Albers. She was given an honorable discharge in July 1945, and moved to West Point.

Fred and Gertrude resided on the family farm northeast of West Point. She was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, St. Paul's Ladies Aid, served on the Altar Guild and as a Sunday school teacher. She lived at St. Joseph's Retirement Home for the last 14 years.

Survivors include: her children and their spouses, Paul and Linda Meyer of West Point, Richard and Marsha Meyer of Santa Fe, N.M., Kathryn and Ben Paisley of Lincoln and Fred and Kay Meyer of St. Paul; her brother, Clarence Albers (and wife, Jean) of Valparaiso, Ind.; sisters, Velma Claus of Goshen, Ky., and Anita Kebschull (and husband, the Rev. Allan) of Pompton Plains, N.J.; brother-in-law, Hubert Voth of Red Wing, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a son, a granddaughter, two brothers, a sister and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

The funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in West Point with military honors. Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at Minnick Funeral Home in West Point with the family present from 5-8 p.m. Visitation also will be 8-8:30 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Retirement Community and 9 a.m. to service time at the church. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials be directed to the St. Joseph's Retirement Community Foundation or St. Paul Lutheran School in West Point.

Gertrude Meyer