A Life Story

Ronald Grady Gerken, age 88, died peacefully on the afternoon of 12/05/2024 in the good care of Azalealand Nursing Home, with loving family by his side. He had bravely battled the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease for many years. With the loving care of his wife, he was able to live at home until the last few months of his life.Mr. Gerken, a native Savannahian, was born on October 13, 1936. He attended local schools, including Savannah High School and Armstrong Junior College. He transferred to Clemson University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering (class of 1959). After graduation, Mr. Gerken, accepted a position with McDonnell Aircraft in Saint Louis, MO in the instrumentation test laboratory where the first manned space vehicle, Mercury Capsule, was fitted for flight. His next job took him to The Martin Company in Orlando, FL to continue work as a licensed professional engineer. His last career move brought him back to Savannah to take a position at the US Army Corps of Engineers. This was a familiar place, where he had previously worked during summer breaks when he was still a college student. In 1966, Mr. Gerken accepted a temporary assignment in Japan, where he worked on hospital construction projects for the care of wounded soldiers from the Vietnam conflict. At the Corps, he attained the level of chief of the electrical design section and, later, chief of information services. His long and rewarding career took him from the days of using a slide rule for mathematical calculation, all the way into the computer age. He was a great student of any subject, in which he took interest. He married his wife, Charlotte Getz in 1959 and they had a long and happy life together, with many enjoyable adventures along the way.In his leisure time, Mr. Gerken loved to sail and was a charter member of the Geechee Sailing Club. He was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension, a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the German Heritage Society and the German Friendly Society.He was predeceased by his parents, Nicolas C. Gerken and Eloise Curry Gerken. He is survived by wife Charlotte, sons Michael K Gerken (Robert) of Omaha, NE, Ronald T. Gerken (Wendy) of Saint Simons Island, GA, granddaughter Molly Gerken Ruane (Tony) of Tampa, FL, grandson Clark Nicholas Gerken (Emily) of Daphne, AL, great-grandchildren Matilda Pearl Ruane, Jack Ellis Gerken, and Mila Eloise Gerken.A January memorial service will be announced at a later date.In lieu of flowers, the family asks to please consider giving to:Kidneys for Kids at https://kidneysforkids.orgor Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Savannahat https://ascensionsavannah.org