Gerald “Jerry” Erlon Trundy

WATERVILLE – A loving, patient, and generous man, Gerald “Jerry” Erlon Trundy, 84, of Waterville, passed from this life to be with the Lord, on March 16, 2025, encircled by his closest loved ones, following a long illness.

Jerry was born in Lewiston on July 18, 1940, the second of six children, to Wendell and Geneva (Hatch) Trundy of West Minot. His childhood was shaped by his close family and community. His parents spent time with Jerry and his siblings enjoying the outdoors, hunting, fishing and gardening, passing along their tremendous work ethic, devotion to family, and their love of sharing special family gatherings for the holidays, family reunions, and other special occasions.

Jerry attended Edward Little High School in Lewiston, graduating in 1959. He attended University of Maine in Orono, earning a bachelor’s degree in forestry in 1963. He began his career working for Pennsylvania Department of Forest and Waters, and Maine Forest Service. In 1967, he went on to become a forestry teacher at Unity College, and at University of Maine’s summer forestry school. He enjoyed his work teaching and his fellow colleagues whom he worked closely with during the college’s early building years. In 1967 Jerry settled in Unity with first wife, Joan, and they had three children Jonathan, Jill and Jenny.

In 1976, Jerry met his second wife, Judy, and they were married in 1988. They lived together for many years at their home on Quaker Hill in Unity. They spent their early years together working together in raising their blended family of six children. Jerry was like a father to Judy’s children Scott, Tami and Todd. It was during these years Jerry developed a passion for cooking and enjoyed preparing and serving comforting meals to his family. He was interested in trying and sharing new recipes. And he and Judy enjoyed hosting holiday gatherings with their children and extended family. In 1978 he and Judy started a small residential group home. Together they worked over the years with great care and compassion, operating their home for 41 years until their retirement in 2019. They were devoted to their residents, considering each resident a part of their family.

Jerry was a devout member of the Quaker Hill Christian Church. Jerry and Judy loved their church family and were devoted to their faith in God. Jerry also held a bible study group at home. In recent days, Jerry continued to reassure his family that ‘God had a plan.’

Jerry had many interests. He was a golf enthusiast, going on trips with his steadfast group of golfing buddies at golf courses across the state. He enjoyed tending to his vegetable garden and canning or freezing his harvest at summer’s end. He was a faithful follower of local sports teams, including the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and Boston Celtics. He and Judy also enjoyed going to visit their time-share in Island Falls. Jerry thought the world of his family. With a growing family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, every birthday and special occasion was remembered with a special greeting card with a hand-written note inside. He also had a routine of keeping his children ‘from away’ up to date with the latest happenings with his informative and interesting hand-written letters.

In their retirement, he and Judy enjoyed a new phase of their lives together. They loved spending time with one another and with their Seton Village community of friends with whom they especially enjoyed going with on planned local trips and to the dances in Harland.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 37 years, Judy, whom he cared for all throughout their time together; and his children, son Jonathan and wife Rita of San Diego, Calif., daughter Jill and husband Peter of Wayne, daughter Jenny and husband Jeff of Mt. Airy, Md., stepdaughter Tami and husband Gene of Unity, stepson Scott and wife Celine of Windam, and stepson Todd and wife Maryann of Richmond. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Joan Myrick (Sawyer) and her husband Joe of Unity, and his siblings, Barbara Durgin of Lewiston, David and wife Betsy of Gray, Walter and wife Rachel of Hebron, Gregory and wife Donna of Bryant Pond and James and wife Gail of Hebron.

He is also survived by 18 grandchildren, Kristi Williams and husband Brian of Cypress, Texas, Karissa Trundy and partner David of San Diego, Calif., Korinna Clark and husband Tanis of Houston, Texas, Kayla Trundy and fiancée Dustin of San Diego, Calif., Antoinette Buendia of San Diego, Calif., Megan Stevenson and husband Taylor of Wayne, Sydney Dood and partner Nathaniel of Orono, Emily Carr of Hagerstown, Md., Lorraine Carr of Mt. Airy, Md., Robert Myrick and partner Caroline of Gray, Katie Cidre and husband Kevin of Windham, Amy Joseph and husband Chad of Oakland, Kevin Paquet and wife Jen of Burnham, and step-grandchildren, Sheena Ellison and husband Ray of Caribou, Diane Pinkham and husband Paul of Richmond, Teagan Myrick of Richmond, Samuel Jelley of Cambridge, Mass., and Caleb Jelley of West Hartford, Conn. He is also survived by 19 great-grandchildren, Ethan, Dominic, Kayla, Katelyn, Jaxon, Grayson, Tanison, Arlo, Wren, Isla, Sawyer, Piper, Deklan, Alexis, Lainey, Walker, Josie, Kimberly and Christopher.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother-in-law Winslow Durgin; and grandson, Michael Myrick.

Condolences, photos and remembrances to the family may be shared at http://www.Ripostafh.com.

A celebration of life for all to join together to share stories and remember Jerry will be held in the summer.