Mrs. Gertrude Louise Whitcomb-Proud

In 1922, Warren G Harding was President of the United States, stamps were only 2 cents, gas was 25 cents a gallon, King Tuts Tomb was found, Insulin was first used to treat Diabetes, there were only 1.8 billion people in the world, and Gertrude Louise Whitcomb was born. January 28, 1922, Gertrude Louise Whitcomb was born to Edith and Chester Whitcomb of Eureka, CA. After graduating Campbell High School (CA) in 1940, Gertrude attended school to be a beautician, a trade she practiced throughout her life. In 1950, she met and married Frederick “Fred” Gordon Proud of San Jose, CA. In 1952, Gertrude & Fred had a daughter, Deborah Louise Proud, and in 1954, their family grew to four when Barbara Proud joined them. Gertrude & Fred enjoyed traveling and moved to Hollister, CA in 1988 (after a short detour through Lake Tahoe), where they took up Golfing and playing cards with their many friends & neighbors. In 1996, just three days shy of their 48th wedding anniversary, Fred passed after a battle with Cancer. Gertrude outlived her life partner by another 28 years. In 2003, Gertrude and her sister Eva Mae Gomes, joined her daughter, Deborah & son in law, Dennis, in Arab, AL. In 2013, she moved to Madison, AL, where she lived for the remainder of her years. Surviving multiple bouts of Cancer, hip and knee replacements, Covid, and the continued heartbreak of watching so many loved ones go before her…Gertrude was both at once quiet dignity personified with a devil may care attitude. In the last few years, her family was blessed as Gertrude continued to be mentally sharp & aware, even as her physical body grew increasingly tired. In July 2023, she fell ill, and never recovered. At 10:17 am, on Friday, August 18, 2023, Gertrude Louise Whitcomb Proud took her last breath as her granddaughter, Amanda, held her hand singing “You are my Sunshine.” She was 101.5 years old. Gertrude is survived by her daughters, Barbara Oberst, of Folsom, CA, and Deborah Hilty, of Harvest, AL; 9 grandchildren: Brooke Cowger (FL); Reagan Cowger (CA); Paige Garben (CA); Cassidy Cowger (CA); Chris Hilty (CA); Kevin Hilty (TX); Julie Hilty (CA); Amanda Richmond (AL); and Victoria Stewart (AL); 12 great grandchildren, and a great-great grandchild. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for you to make contributions to Hospice and/or your favorite charity in Gertrude’s honor (the American Cancer Society was near and dear to her heart). When Gertrude’s spouse, Fred, passed in ’96, the poem chosen for his memorial card was thus: The Promise Across the years I will Walk with you. In deep green forests; On shores of sand; And when our time on earth is through, In heaven, too, you will have my hand. It is with confidence we know they are no longer apart…but walking hand in hand, together again. And for those of us left behind, we should remember that saying good-bye isn’t forever.

Mrs. Gertrude Louise Whitcomb-Proud

January 28, 1922 - August 18, 2023