GERTRUDE (GERTIE) LOUISE FRYE, 99, of Hagerstown, MD, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at her home. Born April 13, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Eugene and Flora Hoffman Bowers. Gertie quit school after the 10th grade to go to work to help support her family and care for her siblings. She began her career in 1928, working for the family of a Hagerstown dentist as a caretaker for a widow in the family, earning $2.00 a week. She then worked for another dentist as an assistant performing such duties as sterilizing instruments and setting up appointments. She also was sent out to collect past due bills by visiting patients at their homes until her father found out and immediately put a stop to it. She did all of this for the same $2.00 a week salary. She also worked at Byron's Shoe Factory on Franklin Street in Hagerstown where she boxed new shoes, earning $12.50 a week, which was $2.00 less than men who did the same work. Gertie met and began dating her future husband, Robert (Les) Frye, also known as "Chunk", who also worked at Byron's Shoe Factory. They married August 31, 1935 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Hagerstown after dating for several years. She admitted in her later years they kissed on the first date because he was such a gentleman. At the time of his death in 2006, they had been married for 70 years. She was once asked how she managed to stay married for so long to which she replied that while she and Les had their share of difficult times, they had long ago agreed that no matter what, they would always kiss each other good night. They both later worked at the Hagerstown Shoe & Leggings store where she worked on the shoe repair line. After moving to Gaithersburg, MD, she worked for many years at the Ben Franklin 5 & 10 Store as a clerk and department manager before retiring and moving back to Hagerstown where Les preceded her in death a week short of his 90th birthday. Gertie was a much loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, soon to be great-great grandmother, wife, sister and friend. While she was quiet, kind and never complained, she was also a very tough woman who learned early on in life to fight back when necessary. Gertie had a long and fruitful life and will be greatly missed. She was a long time member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Williamsport, MD. Gertie is survived by one daughter, Carole Lockitsky of Hagerstown; one son, Gene Frye and wife Elaine of Falling Waters, WV; four sisters, Ruth Conway of Falling Waters, WV, Dorothea Heavner of Williamsport, MD, Nellie Roop of Newark, NJ, and Mable Griffith of Elkton, MD; one brother, Clinton Bowers of Rising Sun, MD; five grandchildren, Cheryl Banks of Delmar, NY, Scott McCathran of Hagerstown, MD, Brian Frye of Falling Waters, WV, Tori Evans of Hagerstown, MD, and Marli Lockitsky of Frederick, MD; five great-grandchildren, Michael (Kyle) Frye of Midlothian, VA, Caitlin Frye and Erinn Frye, both of Falling Waters, WV, and Jacob and Gracie Evans of Hagerstown, MD; and a great-great grandchild due early in 2015 to parents Kyle and Jamie Frye. In addition to her husband, Gertie was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Jane Williams and Mildred Jacobs Boone; four brothers, Robert Bowers, Ralph Bowers, Bernard (Pete) Bowers, and Charles Bowers; and a grandson, David McCathran. Services will be at 11am, Friday, July 18, 2014 at Zion Lutheran Church, 35 W. Potomac Street, Williamsport, MD. Rev. Kathlyn Rohrbach will officiate. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m., Friday, in Lovettsville Union Cemetery, Lovettsville, VA with Rev. Doris Doub officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Washington County, 747 Northern Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21742.