Gerry passed away peacefully while listening to his favorite southern gospel music, in his sleep Wednesday, of unknown causes, in Winter Haven, Fla.
Gerry grew up in Delhi and graduated from Delaware Academy and Central School in 1961. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BS in Civil Engineering. He served in the U.S. Air Force as an officer for four years. Gerry returned to the Information Technology field and spent the rest of his career as a program manager for large government contractors in the Washington D.C. area. After retiring in 2004, Gerry spent a year in Florida but discovered he was not ready for the life of a Florida senior citizen. During the years prior to retirement, Gerry spent as much time as he could in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York and he was “drawn back home” to Delhi and has spent his last years renovating a 19th century Victorian home in Delhi.
Gerry served as a member of the Delhi village board, the Delhi Beautification Committee and was active in the Class of 1961 activities.
He was member and past Elder of the First Presbyterian Church and was also active in the Delhi Community Church. He drove many miles to listen to his Southern Country Gospel.
In October of 2017 he decided to again move to Florida to be closer to his Mother and his brother, Don. He was happy to find he could go to Southern Gospel concerts every weekend - sometimes three a weekend. He was visiting different churches every Sunday. He had started to remodel the home he purchased and was in the process of replacing cabinets when he passed. Gerry was the happiest he had ever been.
Gerry loved his Country, His God, His Jesus and His President. He had a passion for Southern Country Music and His Tennessee Volunteers. Go Vols!
He was predeceased by his son Kevin, his father Owen, and his sister, Betty Tucker.
He was the loving son of Mary Pilgrim, brother to Dianne and John Digilio, Don and Jeannie Pilgrim, Allan Pilgrim, brother-in-law to John R. Tucker the third. He was uncle to John R. and Debbey Tucker the fourth, David and Debby Thomsen, Jason, Natalie and Paisley Thomsen, Jenny and Jacob Ivey, Tyler Michael and Jacob Thomsen Susan, Megan and Katie Cutler, Sandra Digilio, John Digilio, Jarrad, Amie, Owen, Charlotte Pilgrim, Ben, Melissa, Reagan, Aubrey and Jacob Pilgrim.
No services are planned.
Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Florida, handled the arrangements.
