Fernandina Beach, Fla. - Gertrude H. "Trudy" Austin, 82 of Fernandina Beach, Fla. passed away peacefully on September 30, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. She was born Gertrude Helen Sowada on August 22, 1932 in Manhattan, N.Y., prior to her marriage she lived with her parents in Marydel, Md. She graduated from Greensboro High School, class of 1951. After her marriage to Richard C. Austin they moved to Wyoming, Del. and lived there until they moved to the Pocono Mountains in 1976. After several years they moved to Newark, Del. where Trudy worked for the State of Delaware and retired in 1992. They then moved to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for ten years, before finally settling in Fernandina Beach, Fla. She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Elizabeth Sowada; a sister, Florence (Richard) Greene; a nephew, Jeffrey Goulet; and a niece, Luann Parker. She leaves behind her husband of 63 years, Richard; sons, Christopher, of Marydel, Del., Daniel (Marion) of Tunkhannock, Pa., and Timothy "Oz" of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; along with daughters, Kathleen Garner of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Patricia (Glenn) Virdin of Camden, Del., Margaret (Edward) Hughes, Md. of Kettering, Ohio and Mary (Woody) Harris of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; 22 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held in Fernandina Beach, Fla., with a private family burial. Oxley Heard Funeral Directors, Fernandina Beach, Fla.