George Frederick Gass, 88 of Abell, MD, died April 13, 2009 at St. Mary's Nursing Center. Mr. Gass was a lifelong resident of St. Mary's County. He was born in Palmers, MD on May 16, 1920 to the late John Edward Gass and Lola Lee Hayden Gass.

Mr. Gass is survived by his wife of 65 years, Gertrude Gwendolyn Getz Gass whom he married o December 25, 1943 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Avenue, MD.

Mr. Gass was inducted in the U.S. Army on February 23, 1944 in Ft. Meade, MD (Private, Company K). He served his country with honor and was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge in St. Vith Belgium on January 21, 1945. He received an honorable discharge on May 24, 1945 from Kennedy General Hospital located in Memphis, TN with decorations and citations. His awards include The Purple Heart, E.A.M.E. Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and a Combat Infantry Man Badge.

George was the loving father of five daughters and four son-in-laws: Lillian Goldsborough of Hollywood, MD, Regina Morgan and her husband Andy of Compton, MD, Eleanor Tyson and her husband Stan of Compton, MD, Karen Bowles and her husband Randy of Clements, MD and Ruth Hammett and her husband Robin of Clements, MD.

He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great granddaughter and his siblings; John H. Gass of Abell, MD, Ernestine Keaton of Manassas, VA, Catherine Corbin of NC, Margaret Wheeler of SC and Marion Slade of Valley Lee, MD.

He was preceded in death by his twin daughters who died at birth, his siblings Malcom Gass, Horace Gass, Geraldine Gass, Jeanette Wise, Mary Magdalene Wood, Eleanor "Loretta" Wood, Blanche Gass and his son-in-law Jimmy Goldsborough.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 17, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April, 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, MD with Fr. William Gurnee officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be Mr. Gass's grandsons, Mike Goldsborough, Kenny Goldsborough, George Morgan, James Morgan, Jason Bowles, Geoff Hammett and Chris Hammett. Honorary pallbearers will be the granddaughters, Michelle Bean, Ann Barber, Amy Harrell, Sarah Tyson, Gwen Murphy and Sharon Ann Lathroum as well as his great-grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650, 7th District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609 or A Community That Shares, P.O. Box 54, Bushwood, MD 20618.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home.