Geraldine was the first of three girls born to Roberta (Rasey) Stockdale. All had different fathers. "Gerry" spent much of her first few years with her maternal grandparents, Laurel and Dorothy Rasey, in Florida. She then joined her mother and her mother's husband in New Jersey and discovered she had a baby sister, Laura. Laura's father, James Stockdale, adopted Gerry and she became Geraldine Stockdale. Dad was in the military and Gerry's family traveled all over the United States and overseas. She graduated high school in Freeburg, IL, but never got to be in the ceremony since she twisted her ankle walking up the steps to the school with cap and gown in her arms. She was very disappointed, and had to wear a cast on top of all that.
The family moved to Wisconsin and Gerry got a job as an accountant with Kroeger grocery stores.
Gerry's mom and dad were raising and breeding Pekingese dogs and, feeling very independent, she decided to leave home after her mom and dad wouldn't let her keep a puppy out of one of the litters they were selling. She then went back down to Florida to live with her maternal grandparents. Gerry made a friend, Mary, and they would travel by convertable to Fort Lauderdale and St. Augustine for fun.
Gerry met and married an Air Force Sergeant George Herbert. They had five children (named above) and traveled just as she had done with her dad.
They lived in Roswell, NM for some time and she worked in the Levi factory, sewing Levi jeans.
Gerry's dad died in 1979, her mother in 1980 and, finally, in 1981, her husband died of a heart attack in the bed next to her. Her mental state was shakey, at best, but had the love of her family, which pulled her through.
Gerry was then the first to meet another sister: Rose, who was born after Gerry, but before Laura and given up for adoption by mother Roberta who was between marriages.
Finally, Gerry married Mr. Ray who was the son of the woman who owned a ceramics store and with whom Gerry shared the hobby of ceramics.
Gerry's source of pride were her grandchildren. She loved and enjoyed them immensely.
Geraldine was the first of three girls born to Roberta (Rasey) Stockdale. All had different fathers. "Gerry" spent much of her first few years with her maternal grandparents, Laurel and Dorothy Rasey, in Florida. She then joined her mother and her mother's husband in New Jersey and discovered she had a baby sister, Laura. Laura's father, James Stockdale, adopted Gerry and she became Geraldine Stockdale. Dad was in the military and Gerry's family traveled all over the United States and overseas. She graduated high school in Freeburg, IL, but never got to be in the ceremony since she twisted her ankle walking up the steps to the school with cap and gown in her arms. She was very disappointed, and had to wear a cast on top of all that.
The family moved to Wisconsin and Gerry got a job as an accountant with Kroeger grocery stores.
Gerry's mom and dad were raising and breeding Pekingese dogs and, feeling very independent, she decided to leave home after her mom and dad wouldn't let her keep a puppy out of one of the litters they were selling. She then went back down to Florida to live with her maternal grandparents. Gerry made a friend, Mary, and they would travel by convertable to Fort Lauderdale and St. Augustine for fun.
Gerry met and married an Air Force Sergeant George Herbert. They had five children (named above) and traveled just as she had done with her dad.
They lived in Roswell, NM for some time and she worked in the Levi factory, sewing Levi jeans.
Gerry's dad died in 1979, her mother in 1980 and, finally, in 1981, her husband died of a heart attack in the bed next to her. Her mental state was shakey, at best, but had the love of her family, which pulled her through.
Gerry was then the first to meet another sister: Rose, who was born after Gerry, but before Laura and given up for adoption by mother Roberta who was between marriages.
Finally, Gerry married Mr. Ray who was the son of the woman who owned a ceramics store and with whom Gerry shared the hobby of ceramics.
Gerry's source of pride were her grandchildren. She loved and enjoyed them immensely.
Family Members
See more Herbert Ray or Stockdale memorials in:
- Chapel Hill Cemetery Herbert Ray or Stockdale
- Orlando Herbert Ray or Stockdale
- Orange County Herbert Ray or Stockdale
- Florida Herbert Ray or Stockdale
- USA Herbert Ray or Stockdale
- Find a Grave Herbert Ray or Stockdale