Gerard Gerry Joachim Gendron

Gerard "Gerry" Gendron, passed away on 17 November 2012 at the age of 93. He was both a soldier and a foreign service officer, and faithfully served our country for 50 years. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Denise Marie-Louise Gendron and his children, Michele and Gerard (Jr.).

Gerry was originally from Attleboro, Massachusetts, the youngest of five children. He attended three years at Northeastern University in Boston prior to enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1943. He is a veteran of D-Day, Omaha Beach where he landed with the 395th Signal Company of the IXth Aviation Engineers (USAAF) in June 1944 and participated in the breakout of the beachhead, as well as the battles for the Liberation of Paris, the Bulge, Belgium, and the crossing of the Rhine and the occupation of Germany. He met his wife, Denise, in Paris in 1944 where they were married in 1945. Following the war, he mustered out of the service but continued to serve the US Forces in Paris until he returned to the United States with his wife and his daughter, in 1950. He applied for (while working as a gasoline attendant at Texaco on Highway I near Ft Belvoir) and was accepted to the US Foreign Service in 1951. He worked at Foggy Bottom until his first foreign posting to Copenhagen, where he reported in 1954. He formally retired in 1984 but continued to work part time at State Department until 2001. His overseas postings include Denmark, South Viet-Nam, Mexico, Greece and India.

Gerry leaves behind his wife Denise, daughter Michele (Philadelphia, PA), son Jerry (Jr) and daughter-in-law Linda (Tampa, FL), grand daughters Nicole Gendron (Aurora, CO) and Angela Gendron (Lexington, KY), great grand daughter Kayla Gendron (Aurora, CO) and beloved niece, Mary Gosse (Annandale, VA).

Gerry will be honored and buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a date yet to be determined (due to long-lead times dictated by the facility). The date, when available, will be posted to this site.

Meanwhile, condolences may be sent to Mrs. Denise Gendron, 4600 Duke St, Apt #1128, Alexandria, VA 22304.