Gertrude V. Winger, 87, of Gerry, New York, formerly of Cranberry, peacefully entered the gates of Heaven at 8:25 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2014. She died at the Heritage Village Skilled Nursing facility in Gerry, New York.

Born February 14, 1926 in Meadville, she was the daughter of Silas and Bertha May Unger Lybarger Young.

She graduated from Meadville High School and then studied to be a registered nurse at the Meadville School of Nursing.

Mrs. Winger had attended services at the Gerry Free Methodist Church in New York; and also at Cranberry United Methodist Church and the Willow Street Free Methodist Church in Oil City.

Gertrude enjoyed reading, flowers and gardening, and knitting and crocheting.

She was employed as a nurse for many years before retiring from the Franklin Hospital.

She was married in Cochranton on December 7, 1951 to William B. Winger, and he preceded her in death on June 29, 2012. They had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2011.

Surviving are five children, Michael Winger and wife Gail of Lakewood, Colorado; Luann Valdesalice of Franklin; Laura Winger of Spring Lake, N. Carolina; Gerald Winger of Gaston, S. Carolina; and Amy Liddle and husband Kevin of Rochester, New York. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Jen Valdesalice, David and Renee Winger, Jerry Lee Winger, and Kyle, Nicole, and Zachary Liddle; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Winger was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by the following siblings: Joseph, Noble, Leah, Austin, Reno, and David Young, Lois Stanley, Paul Young, and Chester, Irvin, and Wilbur Lybarger, and Dortha Free.

An initial memorial service to celebrate her life held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15th in the Seeley Chapel of the Heritage Village Retirement Campus located at 4600 Rte. 60 in Gerry, New York, 14740.

A second memorial service was held at ll a.m. Saturday, June 21st, 2014 at Christ United Methodist Church, 1135 Buffalo St., Franklin, with Rev. Sam Wagner, associate pastor, officiating. A luncheon was served in the church social hall immediately after the service. At 1:30 p.m. a service followed in Grove Hill Cemetery in Oil City where both she and her husband, who had passed in 2012, were interred at the same time.

"Remember your leaders, those who taught you about God. Consider the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:7,8)

That is what we will continue to do Ma'am. Thank you for your love for all of us, your love for your country, and most of all your love for your God Who you taught us by example to serve. See you on the other side Ma'am :-)