Gerald D. McBride, 81 of Bethlehem, PA died Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Born March 18, 1943 in Washington, DC, he was a son of the late John W. and Rebecca (Matthews) McBride. He was a 1961 graduate of Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA and received his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at the University of Chicago in 1965. He was employed by ESSO (now ExxonMobil) before retiring in 1998. Gerry spent summers in Ocean Grove, NJ for 45 years, where he was a member of the Auditorium Choir. He was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Hellertown and a former member of the Asbury UM Church.
He is survived by nieces and nephew: Diane Sloop, Trisha Roscoe, John McBride and extended family: Judy and Barry Willever and Wendi Wence. He was predeceased by his wife Shirley (Hart) McBride in July of 2024 and siblings: David and Howard McBride and Pat Dugan.
A Graveside service will be held 10:30 AM Friday in the Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Rd., Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s UM Church, 645 Main St., Hellertown, PA or to Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Assoc. at www.oceangrove.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.
Carol Eisenbise
January 16, 2025 at 7:01 am
Thank you, Gerry, for taking such good care of Shirley as best you could until her death. Thank you for the gift of sharing your voice in the many choirs where you sang. I’m so very grateful that I got to know the two of you.
My deepest condolences to his friends and family.
Carol Eisenbise
Rev. Kathleen Coleman
January 16, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Our deepest condolences to Gerry’s family, We have been friends with the McBrides for many years, following their adventurous travels, various moves, even to their Ocean Grove paradise. Shirley was a dear friend from 1st grade and Gerry since their wedding day. We will miss them sincerely, but they truly lived for each other and now are together again. God bless you as you move through this mourning time. In Christ, Kathy and Charlie Coleman
Tom Rotunno
January 16, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Condolences to the family of my late friend, Mr. Gerald McBride. I sang in choir with him at St. Paul’s and marveled at his powerful bass voice. Gerry and Shirley and I both appreciated music of bygone eras; for me it was the instrumental music of the opera and the songs of operetta which I enjoyed playing on the St. Paul pipe organ after church. I was already missing Gerry these last few weeks at church and it saddens me to hear of his passing. But now I can imagine them both singing “Ah, sweet mystery of life” with the heavenly choir as they once did for us at St. Paul’s. My sincere sympathy to the Family; Yours, Mr Tom Rotunno
Robert Benson
February 5, 2025 at 10:41 am
Farewell, Gerry. Our time at ExxonMobil, working on the global Financial & Operational Reporting system is a memory I cherish. Your brilliant insight made exceptional reporting possible for management, investors, and shareholders.