Gerald Eugene Stewart age 99 went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 30, 2026. "Jerry" as he was known to friends and family, was born on his father's birthday, March 12, 1927 in Brunswick, Maryland. He was the son of Leroy Herbert Stewart and Ada Belle (Arnett) Stewart. He was one of five siblings, two brothers and two sisters. He is the last of his immediate family.

Jerry had what only can be described as a Huck Finn childhood. At 12 years old he would often leave home in the middle of the night and pole a boat up the Potomac River to his camp where he and his friends would spend several days before coming home again. The last generation to have such freedom.

In 1944 at 17 he left high school to enlist in the U. S. Navy. He served as a Fireman 1/C aboard the USS LST 75 in the Pacific. He was awarded the Americas Campaign Medal, the Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War Two Victory Medal. It was in the Navy the he met his second love of his life, Diesel Mechanics. He would spend most of his working life working on heavy equipment in quarries and helping to build Interstate Highways. He received many professional certifications and was certified as a Euclid Mechanic and GMC Certified Technician.

After the war he married his first love, Pauline Lee Mock and they were together for 68 years before her passing in 2016. They had two sons, Gerald Mark Stewart (Carol) and Richard M. Stewart both now of Bedford. Jerry's daughter-in-law Carol was the daughter he never had and they shared a special bond of friendship up to his death.

In his later years he trained and became a water plant operator. He worked for the City of Hagerstown from where he retired in 1992. He and Pauline spent their retirement together traveling with friends and family. One of their most memorable trips was traveling up the Atlantic Coast visiting dozens of historic lighthouses.

After his son Gerald moved to Bedford, Jerry came to live at Colonial Courtyard of Bedford where he was known as the mayor because of his active lifestyle and his outgoing personality. Up until a week before his death he was walking up to a half mile a day. At 97 Jerry participated in the Bedford County Young at Heart Games. At that time, he was the oldest person to ever participate. He won medals in two of the events and for his enthusiasm he was awarded "The Spirit of the Games" award of which he was very proud.

The family would like to recognize Colonial Courtyard for the care and love the showed Jerry while he lived there. Not enough praise or thanks can be given to the staff and leadership of the facility for how well they treated him.

As per Jerry's wishes he is to be cremated and the funeral services will be private at a later time.

The family would ask that you consider a donation in memory of Jerry to the Bedford County Young at Heart Games, c/o Colonial Courtyard of Bedford, 220 Donahue Manor Road, Bedford, PA 15522.

Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.geiselfuneral.com/. Arrangements entrusted to Geisel-Styer Funeral Homes, Bedford, Pennsylvania.