Gerald Francis Gude

Gerald “Jerry” Gude was born February 27, 1943, in Washington, DC to Francis and Geraldine Gude, younger brother to (Rev) Thomas Gude. Jerry grew up in Hyattsville, MD, was a volunteer fireman in the summers, learned many life skills from his father and older brother, and enjoyed spending time with neighbors and a number of close cousins.

For school, Jerry attended St Charles College in Baltimore and then St. Mary’s Seminary and University, where he initially intended to follow in his brother’s footsteps into the Catholic priesthood.

In 1967, Jerry realized the priesthood was not his calling and instead sought and was awarded a commission into the United States Air Force. His first official assignment was as a Missile Launch Officer at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There he met Kathy; they dated and were married in 1968. He earned his Master of Science in Business Administration degree via correspondence courses from the University of Wyoming during downtime while working in the missile silos. While not working, Jerry and Kathy had many good times with Kathy’s sister Eileen, and her husband Vince. These four would not only be family, but lifelong treasured friends. Eventually, seven daughters between them would only add to the fun.

Jerry and Kathy left Cheyenne in 1971 for their new assignment in Morgantown, West Virginia, followed by assignments in South Carolina, a few training schools, and then an unaccompanied one-year assignment to South Korea. Next, they spent two years in Germany and three years in England before completing Jerry’s twenty-year commitment to the Air Force at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

Jerry built friendships with neighbors, was a great dad helping to raise their three girls, Jennifer, Elizabeth and Frances, and he always made time to volunteer for community events. He was a runner and ran the Skyway Bridge run when the new bridge opened. When Jerry retired from military service in 1987, he found a new calling as a Legal Administrator. Through a series of several law firm positions, Jerry always found such nice friends who appreciated his patience, wisdom, kindness, goodness and sense of humor.

When Jerry took his “retirement” as Administrator from DeLoach, Hofstra, and Cavonis, PA, he ended his commute across the Howard Frankland, but he never actually stopped working. He volunteered weekly driving the parking tram at the VA Hospital, worked as a Guardian ad Litem, and through multiple court systems in the area, served the community as a Mediator. Jerry continued to meet “the boys” for breakfast, his law firm friends for lunch, and always had a kind hello and helping hand for neighbors. He jogged or walked the neighborhood until the last year or two of his life.

Work and daughters were very important, but it was faith in God and his love for Kathy that were constants throughout his life. Through their 56-and-a-half-years of marriage they had some big adventures: living in five states, having two overseas Air Force assignments, and taking cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal. But mostly, it was in the small daily moments that Jerry showed, via actions more than words, that Kathy was his “best person”. If life is in the small details, theirs were simple and together. The best gift Jerry could receive was time with Kathy and their family.

Jerry leaves behind family and friends, grateful he is released from the pain of the last few months, and grateful for this man who truly lived his faith through the Fruits of the Spirit. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen “Kathy”, daughters Jennifer, Elizabeth, and Frances; sons-in-law James and Calvin; grandchildren, Joe, Samantha (Hunter), Grace, Timothy, Kimberly, Walter, and Mortimer; two great-granddaughters, Eliza and Adeline; Sister-in-law Eileen (Vince); his nieces Kathleen (Steve), Sheila (Chris), Megan, and Katie (Dave), Tenley, Kirsten, nephew Mike, sister-in-law Beth (David), and many dear friends.

On Friday, March 28th, 2025, the family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 AM followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM, both at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz, FL. All are invited to a light reception afterward. Burial will be at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL on Monday, March 31st at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation, or St. Mary’s Seminary and University, in Maryland.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good to wait in silence for the Salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25-26