Henry Gertz - Obituary

enry Edward “Dick” Gertz, Jr., 80, a 65-year resident of Davidsonville, MD died on Thursday, September 15, 2011 from complications of cancer. Dick was born on February 8, 1931 to the late Henry Edward and Lillian Pullman Gertz. He graduated from Arundel High School in 1948 and continued to work on the family farm. In 1951, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in Korea as the war was winding down. After his service, Dick was employed as a mechanic for Capital Airlines at Washington International Airport. He then worked as a night manager at the Dixie Bar-B-Que Restaurant at Waysons Corner in Lothian, MD. Later, Dick owned and operated the Meade Superette Store in Odenton, MD. After selling his business, Dick worked at Rips Restaurant in Bowie, MD as a manager until his retirement in 1995. Throughout his life, Dick was fascinated with airplanes. In his youth, he spent his spare time assembling model airplanes. Dick became a licensed pilot and entertained his family and friends for many years with his airplane rides. Dick enjoyed cooking, reading, hunting, growing cactuses in his greenhouse, and gardening and was an avid bowler. He also enjoyed sharing his homegrown vegetables with family and friends and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Dick was a charter member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Gambrills and Crofton. In addition to his parents, Dick was predeceased by a brother, Gilbert Roy “Jack” Gertz. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Janet Adamson Gertz; his daughters, Cheryl (Jim) Washington of Mt. Airy, MD, Cindy (Terry Lewis) Gertz of Leicester, NC and Betina Jones of West Palm Beach, FL; a son, Bruce (Marie) Gertz of Davidsonville, MD; a sister, Lorraine Clow of Davidsonville, MD; also survived by two grandchildren, Sarah and Ryan Washington of Mt. Airy, MD. Friends are invited to Dick’s Life Celebration at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Sunday, September 18 from 2 to 5pm, where funeral service will held on Monday, September 19 at 12pm. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations may be made in Dick’s name to a charity of one’s choice.