Linda Mae Gerlach

Linda Mae Gerlach, 81, passed away February 23, 2024, in Beaverton, Oregon. She was born to Douglas and Minnie Wright on July 29, 1942. Linda grew up in Los Angeles, California, with her brother, Doug Wright, now deceased, and Carole Hurley. After high-school, Linda spent a year in the Civil Air Patrol as a cadet and did some modeling for May Company. She met her husband, Robert (Bob) Gerlach, while in Los Angeles, and married him on March 9, 1963. A couple years after marrying they decided to pack up and move to the Pacific Northwest. They fell in love with the Pacific Northwest after Bob found a book that regaled all about Oregon and Washington. They first moved to Eugene, Oregon where Linda found an exciting job as a 911 operator. While doing that, she also began a choir for her local church, and she played the piano for the church services. They eventually moved to Vancouver, Washington where Linda resided for the next 50 years, 24 of those years were as a widow. During that time, Linda worked at Meier and Frank as an assistant manager in Young Attitudes. She was also highly involved with St. Andrew Lutheran Church, she played the piano and taught herself how to play the organ. Family was also very important to Linda, she stayed close to their families in California and visited them whenever she could, with her children. When Linda got together with family her dry sense of humor would have everyone around them laughing. After they became an empty nester, Linda devoted herself to taking care of Bob while he fought cancer. When Linda became a widow, she would spend her spare time gardening and looking through cookbooks, whenever she wasn't at work or at church. Linda also loved collecting angels, butterflies, and stray animals. Somehow animals always found their way to her, she would take them in, and give them a loving home. Linda is survived by her sister, Carole, her children Kim, Michelle, and Kyle, and her treasured grandchildren and great grandchildren Jory, Casey, Justin, Karyssa, Kayla, Ethan, Jase, and Amara. Linda was a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington for 50 years. Her memorial will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church at 11 a.m., and her interment will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, in Vancouver, Washington, at 1 p.m. Bob will also be interned at the same time, next to his wife. In Lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to St. Andrew Lutheran Church's music department.

Linda Mae Gerlach

July 29, 1942 - February 23, 2024