Jeanne Marie Gerhart Tilghman
Jeanne Marie (Ludrof) Gerhart Tilghman, born in Allentown, June 17, 1931, passed away March 19, 2022 at Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg. She was the daughter of the late Joseph A. Sr. and Therese (Gregor) Ludrof. She was the widow of the late Richard Tilghman, who died April 7, 1967. Previously married to the late Ray Daniel Gerhart, Sr.
She was a member of the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena since birth. She also attended St. Thomas More Catholic Church. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1948 and later completed courses in computer programming, which led to a job with NCR as a Computer Systems Designer. She worked with her late husband as office manager of Tilghman Motors, the home of the only Datsun/Nissan franchise in the Lehigh Valley at that time. After her husband’s death, she worked for various CPA firms in Allentown, and at Weber Funeral Homes as Office Manager for 20 years. A longtime volunteer, she was at Sacred Heart Hospital for 30 years until 1989, and at Lehigh Valley Health Network - 17th St. campus since 1989. She served as President of both Sacred Heart and Allentown Auxiliaries. She served as co-President for the first year of the new Auxiliary named the Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital. She has served on all three Auxiliary Boards in various positions and was a member of LVHN Board of Associates, previously as President of the Executive Board. In 2007 she was instrumental in forming an Allentown
AARP Chapter and was currently President of Chapter #5415. She was previously President of the Whitehall AARP Chapter and Legislative Chairman. She organized two bus runs to Congressman Charles Dent to discuss current issues and coordinated bus runs for AARP
Lobby Day in Harrisburg to advocate community home-based care and another to have $50 million of lottery money used for senior needs. She ran two bus trips a month for the AARP Chapter fundraising to casinos and dinner/theaters. Other current and past affiliations were: lifetime member and volunteer at Lehigh County Active Life, member of previous advisory
Board of CCHS Alumni Association, member of TRIAD Lehigh County, member of St. John’s Prime Time, representative of senior Medicare Patrol at CARIE (Center for Advocacy, Rights, and Interests of the Elderly) (Medicare fraud) at Health Fairs for Lehigh and Northampton Counties, previous President of Eastern Region PAHA (Pennsylvania Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries), and Health Promotion Chairman for Eastern Region PAHA. In May of 2014, she was appointed Legislative Chairman for the PAHA State Board. She held several other offices in PAHA at the State and Region level, including Secretary/Treasurer and chairman of the membership and legislative committees until PAHA dissolved in 2017. She was a team member for Federal Advocacy for AARP Pennsylvania, and previously served as Vice-President of Cathedral Women's Alliance, Secretary of Cathedral Golden Age Club, Girl Scout leader at Cathedral School, volunteer at Cathedral School cafeteria, and teacher’s aide in the school. She also volunteered at the annual HydroMania Project for the City of Allentown, and at Civic theater as an usher.
Survivors: daughter, Judith Anne Reinford, wife of Stanley N., of Salisbury Townships, with whom she resided; son: Ray Daniel Gerhart
Jr., and wife, Mel, of Princess Anne, Maryland; Brother, Joseph A. Ludrof Jr., and wife, Barbara (Reinhard) of Macungie; stepchildren: Raymond and Gloria Tilghman of Virginia; grandchildren: Danielle Adams, wife of Thomas Adams of Leesburg; nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by sister, Teresa (Ludrof) Lewis, Olive Branch, MS., stepdaughter, Diane Tilghman.
Services: Calling hours will be held on Friday, April 1st, 2022 from 9:30AM until the mass of Christian burial at 11:30AM, all at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexer Avenue Allentown, PA 18103. Burial to follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Allentown.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena 1825 W Turner St. Allentown, PA 18104; St. Thomas More Church 1040 Flexer Ave. Allentown, PA 18103; and Lehigh Valley Hospital Development Office 2100 Mack Blvd Allentown, PA 18103.
Online condolences may be made at www. weberfuneralhomes.com