Hugh Hudson Gerth Obituary (1942 - 2024)

Born Feb 05, 1942, Hugh Hudson Gerth attended Eisenhower High School in Yakima, WA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Hugh Hudson Gerth.

Graduation Year	Class of 1960
Date of Birth	Feb 05, 1942
Date of Passing	Dec 03, 2024
About	Hugh was born on February 5th, 1942, in Nicollet, Minnesota. He was the third child of four to Harold and Elizabeth (Hudson) Gerth. Before turning one year old, his family moved to Yakima, WA to follow his father's job at the local newspaper. Hugh's early years were spent in Tieton, where he fondly remembered living in the country, raising goats and rabbits, and taking long solo bike rides after eating dinner with his family. The Gerths later moved to Yakima where Hugh attended Franklin Junior High and then Eisenhower High School during its inaugural year in 1957. There, he first met Sharon (Bonneville) in an English class aptly taught by Miss Love. They began dating their senior year. After 2 years at Yakima Valley College, Hugh enlisted in the Navy. Upon competition of the electronic technician school, he was stationed in Sasebo, Japan for duty on the USS Peacock, a minesweeper. It was on leave from duty that Hugh returned to Yakima, sold his car to purchase a wedding ring, and proposed to Sharon. The couple endured two long years of engagement and countless letters until Sharon could join him in Sasebo. They were married at the American Consulate in Fukoka, Japan. September 29th, 2024 marked their 60th wedding anniversary. Upon returning to Yakima in 1967, Hugh was hired by Pacific Northwest Bell, in the electronics division. There he worked negotiating changes to communication and even taught classes before he retired after 35 years. Hugh's family grew with the addition of son Karl and daughter Andrea. Family was the heart of Hugh's life. He generously gave of his time and talents to his children and those in his life by being a Cub Scout leader, participating in Indian Princesses and attending baseball games, band concerts, cross country meets, piano recitals, neighborhood gatherings and church events. From a very early age, Hugh was a craftsman at heart. A firm believer in RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), he was a master in finding new uses for the many reclaimed items that filled his workshop. His true talents show when designing and building cabinets, toys for his children and grandchildren and Christmas decorations as well as remodeling his home, room by room. He also generously donated his time at church, running and designing video screens for worship, building a Little Free Library, and handbell tables. For Sharon, among many other pet projects, he designed and built her dream kitchen, with one of a kind shelves and custom cabinets. Photography was one of the first of Hugh's many hobbies. In fact, the family home had its own darkroom where he taught himself to develop and print his own black and white photos. He continued his passion for nature photography throughout his life and his pictures filled their home. As the technology changed, his darkroom became an office where he turned his talents to photo editing. When at YVC, one of his professors offered a "B" on an upcoming test for any student willing to participate in a local blood drive. Hugh knew this to be an offer he couldn't turn down. However, this also inspired the commitment to be a life-long blood donor. Hugh has supported the Red Cross through blood donations since his late teens, through his early 80s. Hugh was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, now Yakima Covenant, during high school years, returning to worship there with his young family. Friendships formed 50 years ago still remain strong and Hugh was still hosting a men's coffee meeting on Fridays until this past fall. Hugh is survived by his wife Sharon (Bonneville), son Karl and daughter-in-law Munira Gerth in Sammamish, daughter Andrea and son-in-law Stanford Peng in San Francisco as well as 6 cherished grandchildren - Syrah, Sophia and Aidan Gerth, Rose, Charlotte and Clara Peng. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers John and Peter (Vietnam, 1970) and sister Gretchen. Hugh's Memorial service will be at 11:00 am, January 4th, 2024 at Yakima Covenant Church.

Classmate Memories

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Wanda Marquardt '68 said:

Hugh was my brother-in-law. What a wonderful man! He was devoted to his lovely wife Sharon and his children and grandchildren.
Wanda Marquardt "68 Gerth Garfield

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