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Gertrude Walter (Bobby) Lerch was born March 11, 1910 in San Francisco to Albert and Mina Walter. The Walter family lived outside Cokeville, WY where she remembered watching the last wagon trains pass through on their way west. The family moved to New York State in 1912 where she spent her early years. She excelled educationally, graduating as Valedictorian of Ardsley High School, Ardsley, N.Y. and magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass., from which she also received her Masters Degree in chemistry.
During her 104 years Bobby lived a full life of service to others. Up until the day she passed, she actively participated in Girl Scouting as a scout, leader, trainer, officer and President of two Girl Scout Councils in the Washington Metro area. As president of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital, she bridged geographic, socioeconomic and racial differences to create a strong and vital organization. Bobby continuously challenged GSCNC to think strategically and reach beyond its comfort zone to develop partnerships and resources to support Girl Scouting. Her involvement with scouting spanned more than 90 years and she was honored by the Girl Scouts of the Washington D.C. Metro Area with the establishment of the Bobby Lerch "Legacy of Leadership" Award and a specially minted service pin.
Bobby was always very devoted to her church. Starting as a teen aged Sunday school teacher in Ardsley, NY. and continuing on when she relocated to the Washington, D.C. area where she served St. Paul's Lutheran Church for some 70 years, in many roles including Church Archivist, Trustee, and Church Council President. She was also president of the Maryland Lutheran church Women.
In addition to Scouting and the church, Bobby found time to be a board member and Chairman of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Health and Welfare Council. She was also active as a Board Member, Allocations Committee Chair and was the first woman President of the United Way of the National Capital Area.
Bobby loved travel, camping, genealogy, reading and needlepoint. But most of all she loved her family.
Life Events
Life Events
1910 - March 11th. Born in San Francisco. Lived in Fruitvale, CA for 6 months
1910 to 1912 - Lived at a mine outside of Cokeville, WY for 2 years
1912 to 1928 -Lived in Ardsley, NY
1924 - Started Girl Scout troop and is still active today
1931 to 1936 - Mount Holyoke College
1933 to 1934 - Gin taster in Brooklyn, NY (for a short period, for a research chemical firm ... as a "secretary")
1936 - Married Henry F. Lerch September 12 - moved to Washington, DC
1937 - Moved to Maryland, Raymond Street
1938 - Moved to Taylor Street
1938 - Harry Walter born in May
1940 - Albert William (dahinda meda) born in April
July 1941 to August 1945 - Husband, Hank, on active duty
1942 to 1944 - Lived in Wilmington, DE
1944 - John Robert born in June
1944 to 1961 - Returned to Taylor Street
1958 - Barbara Jane, first grandchild born
1961 to 1990 - Lived on Windsor Place
Jan 9, 1986 - Husband, Hank, died
1982 - Melanie Michelle - first born great-grandchild
1990 to 2014 - Moved to 8101
World Traveler Extraordinaire; Europe, India, China, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, British Columbia, many US cross-country trips, Alaska, Hawaii ... to name just a few destinations
2009 - Annarose, first great-great grandchild born
Education
Education
1927 - Ardsley High School, Class Valedictorian
1928 to 1936 - Mount Holyoke College
1931 - Graduated - BS, Chemistry, Magna cum laude
1933 - Graduated - MA, Chemistry
1934 to 1936 - Research Associate Mount Holyoke Chemistry Department
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Volunteering
Volunteering
Afternoon librarian for Ardsley Public Library while in high school
Secretarial staff for the Office of Civil Defense, Wilmington, DE for 2 years
Boy Scout den mother for 4 years!!
President, Monty Holyoke College - DC area alumnae club - 1950's
Local Community Chest, United Welfare Council
1st woman President of United Way, National Capital Area
President, Maryland Lutheran Church Women
President, National Capital Area Girl Scout Council
1st President of Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital
Trainer for Girl Scouts
Active St Paul's Lutheran Church since 1936
Sunday school teacher
Committee chair
President of church Council
Church Trustee
Archivist
Montgomery County Red Cross
Started work at Wallace & Lerch law firm in 1950 whenever Dottie, their secretary, did not come to work - answered phones, etc. Took over their bookkeeping and tax preparation for clients until the firm moved to MD and expanded to more than 3 attorneys.
AARP Tax Aid
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Ardsley High School, Ardsley, N.Y. senior yearbook photo.
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