PHILMONT—Gertrude L. Wilber, 94, of Ghent, died Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at Pine Haven Nursing Home.
She was a lifelong resident of the Town of Ghent.
Born September 23, 1916 in Hudson, she was the daughter of the late Harrison and Florence Raab, formerly of West Ghent.
She was predeceased by her husband, Grant A. Wilber, whom she married June 11, 1944; her sisters, Mildred Raab, Dorothy Powell and Jane Fleming Moore; and a brother, Howard Raab.
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, Russell G. and Sharon Wilber of Ghent; her brother, Walter Raab of Schenectady; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Mrs. Wilber graduated from the Hudson High School. She was a lifelong member of the Ghent Reformed Church, a member of the choir, the Ghent Doers, and the Eastern Star. In 1958, she was a charter member of the Ghent Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary and was elected their first secretary. She was employed by NY State Electric and Gas from 1936 until 1994, serving as secretary to six managers at the Chatham location. In 1986 she was honored for 50 years of service (the first woman with 50 years service) for the company. At that time a conference room in the new building in Chatham was named after Mrs. Wilber. She is fondly remembered by her fellow employees as “Lady NYSEG”. Also she served as secretary/treasurer of NYSEG Berkshire District Quarter Century Club and as contributing editor to the “Tie Lines News” for over 40 years. During our country’s Bicentennial in 1976, Mrs. Wilber served on the Town of Ghent Bi-Centennial Committee as secretary and kept a complete record of the Town’s activities from beginning to end. She contributed and helped publish “Squampamock, A Bicentennial History of Ghent, NY”.
Mrs. Wilber, known for her independent ways, enjoyed doing odd jobs around the house and yard, such as mowing the lawn, trimming the hedge, and scraping and painting the house, even in her elderly years. She will be missed very much.
Funeral services were November 13 at the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions be made in Mrs. Wilber’s name to the Ghent Reformed Church, 1039 County Route 22, Box 90, Ghent 12075.