Obituary of Gertrude Helen Edwards Tapie

Gertrude Helen Edwards Tapie (Trudy) 98 years young passed away peacefully with her daughter Katherine and sons Tony and Michael by her side. She was the widow of LTC (Army) Anthony William Tapie.

Trudy was a loved member of the Cumberland Village Community in Aiken, SC. As an Army Wife she travelled the world and was an active contributing member of the Army Community. She was proud of her 49 years as a volunteer for the American Red Cross where she was recognized with the prestigious Clara Barton Award and was chosen as a delegate to the International Red cross Conference in Geneva, Switzerland where she also had lunch at the World Health Organization.

After her husband's retirement from the Army they moved to Florida where she continued her volunteer activities with the Red Cross, the Veterans Administration, and the American Legion. During this time she received a letter signed by President George H.W. Bush in recognition of her community volunteer activities. One of his Thousand Points of Light. She was an adventuress who said she had visited all the places in the world which interested her except for walking on the Appalachian Trail. As an Orchid Society Member while living in Panama she ventured into the jungle on orchid hunting expeditions. She floated in a Hot Air Balloon, went white water rafting, cruised on the American Queen down the Mississippi River, and rode a hydroplane from North Africa to Spain. She was a bright star in life and is now a star in heaven where her light shines down to let us know she is happy.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM at Cumberland Village (main building) on Friday, December 14, 2018 with Father Raymond Flores as celebrant. Private interment in Florida National Cemetery.

Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to St Mary Help of Christians Charities, P.O. Box 438, AIken, SC 29802.

The Histoirc George Funeral Home, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements.