Gretha A. Tollenger

HAVRE DE GRACE - Gretha A. Tollenger, 85, died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, at the Citizens Care Center.

She was born in Fishing Creek on Nov. 16, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Hobart and Claudye Wallace.

Mrs. Tollenger grew up in Fishing Creek and graduated from Hooper Island High School. Upon graduation she moved to Havre de Grace to live with an aunt and uncle and found employment with the A. T. Baines 5 & 10 store.

Several years later she accepted employment with the C&P Telephone Co., where she remained for 35 years, until retirement in 1980. During this period she met Millard R. (Grip) Tollenger and they were married on Dec. 5, 1942. They were together for over 60 years, until his death in April of 2003.

Mrs. Tollenger is survived by two sisters, Phyllis Simmons and her husband, Tom of Bear, Del. and Barbara Hurley and her husband, Ronald of Easton. She is also survived by a niece, Hanah L. Newmeyer of Torrance, Calif., whom the Tollenger's assumed legal guardianship of after her mother's death in 1969. In addition she is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Louise Newmeyer, and her brother, Hobart Wallace Jr.

Mrs. Tollenger was a member of the Joseph L. Davis, Unit No. 47, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Telephone Pioneers.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lee A. Patterson & Son Funeral Home, P.A., 1493-95 Clayton St., Perryville with Father John Elledge of St. John's Episcopal Church, Havre de Grace, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, c/o Patterson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 766, Perryville, MD 21903-0766.