Gerard J. Billings

Gerard J. Billings, 84, of Reading, PA, died quietly in Saint Joseph's Medical Center at 3:10 a.m. on January 10, 2008.

In July 1941 he joined the Navy as a submariner and served on the USS Tuna in the Pacific as an Electrician Mate 1st Class during WWII. During his naval duty he met his wife, Valma J. Bigg of Brisbane, Australia, and married her on March 4, 1944.

Mr. Billings graduated from Columbia University in 1949 with a Masters degree in Public Health. He became Executive Director of the American Lung Association of Berks County in 1958 until he retired in 1986.

He enjoyed having his home filled with his children, their spouses, and grandchildren.

Gerard is preceded in death by his brother Lt. Cmd. John Hillary Billings SSN-593 Thresher and is survived by his brother Herbert Billings, Gerard's wife Valma, their six children: Patrick, Evelyn, Theresa, Michael, Timothy, and Daniel, their spouses.

Mr. Billings is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and five great grand children.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Saint Catharine of Siena Chapel, 2328 Perkiomen Ave. Mt. Penn, PA 19606 Burial will be private. Friends may call Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Catharine's Church at the above address. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.kuhnfuneralhome.com