Gerald, Caroline Akers
Caroline Akers Gerald, 88 of Christiansburg, went to be with the Lord on February 11, 2023. Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, Howard N. Akers and Lydia Reynolds Akers, and her husband, Robert Zacchaeus Gerald.
She is survived by a sister, Janet Akers Sutphin, and her children, Karen Gerald Barnes (husband Bob), Sharon Kay Gillis (husband George), Larry Wayne Gerald (wife Lisa), Gary Lee Gerald (wife Dama), and by her grandchildren Adam Cole Gerald (wife Jill), Brittany Gerald Gibbs (husband Brian), Isaac Howard Barnes, Samuel Aaron Barnes (wife Judy), Carley Alexander Gillis and great-grandchildren, Jackson Gibbs, Maren Gerald, Mathew Barnes.
Caroline Gerald was born in Tiltonsville, Ohio and moved with her parents and sister to Christiansburg in the early 1940s. On August 29, 1954, she married her high school sweetheart, Bob Gerald, and they were married 51 years. They were first members at Cambria Baptist Church, having trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior in their teen years. Later in 1969, they were founding members at Trinity Baptist Church where they served the rest of their lives.
Caroline graduated from Radford College (now University) with a B A. in Elementary Education. She taught in Montgomery County schools for many years before retiring and then teaching in Blacksburg Christian School and Community Christian Academy. In retirement, Bob and Caroline were active in Gideons International giving money for Bible distribution and giving out Bibles on a personal basis. They also invested in God’s Kingdom by traveling to various countries of the world with short term mission teams to share the gospel of Christ.
Visitation will be Tuesday, February 14, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trinity Community Church. Funeral Services will begin at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg.
The Gerald family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Gideons International through Christiansburg Gideon Camp U 45034, P.O. Box 366, Christiansburg, VA 24068, or to Gideons through Trinity Community Church, 1505 North Franklin St., Christiansburg, VA 24073. Gifts can be made “In memory of Caroline Gerald”.