MEADES--Gertrude Webb, the wife of the late Harry Meades, military hero who served as a Royal Air Force Officer and was decorated four times and held five Combat Medals. She was the granddaughter of former Mayor William J. Gaynor of New York City, NY. Gertrude passed away peacefully Saturday, May 9, 2009 at her home in Naples, Florida. She was raised in Manhasset, New York and known to her family and friends as "Punchie." Gertrude Webb Meades was born February 28, 1925 the fourth child of five children whose parents were William Seward Webb, Jr. and Gertrude Gaynor Webb. Her father was the founder of Webb and Knapp, real estate agent, and son of the late William Seward Webb, railroad builder and his mother was the late Mrs. Eliza Osgood Webb, a daughter of William H. Vanderbilt. Mrs. Meades mother was the late Gertrude Gaynor Webb, daughter of William J. Gaynor and Elizabeth Handwright. Her parents' fortunes enabled the Webbs and Vanderbilts to be among the earliest to enjoy summers in Shelburne, Vermont and go on to create the world renowned "Shelburne Museum". (The Shelburne Museum was founded by Electra Havemayer Webb and her husband J. Watson Webb whose parents were Dr. William Seward Webb and Lila Vanderbilt Webb. Their 19th century lakeside estate would become Shelburne Farms.) Gertrude (Punchie) Webb Meades, longtime character of life, regaled in living life to the fullest with long freighter trips to exotic ports of call, the love of animal husbandry, she had a passion for reading and enjoyed the solitude of needlepoint. She spent many productive years as a volunteer with the Naples Community Hospital Blood Bank. There was no one else like this woman, lovingly known as Punchie. She will be remembered for her love of family, her dear friends, her zest for life, and her elegantly gentle kind outlook on life, graceful manners, wit and warmth. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by Emma II, her "Pug", her two sons, Michael Harry Meades of Apopka, Florida and Jamie Seward Meades of Sarasota, Florida, three granddaughters, Heather Portanova, Meredith Magennis and Mindy Meades and great-grandchildren, Caitlin Magennis, Caleb Portanova and Kayli Portanova. In addition, she is survived by her sister Frederica Webb Gamble of Westwood, MA, her nieces, Frederique Gamble, Susan Webb Porter and nephew W. Seward Webb. Memorial service was conducted Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the St. John's Episcopal Church, Naples, Florida. In lieu of flowers, family and friends may make contributions in Punchie's name to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care: Naples, Florida, Animal Refuge Center of Fort Myers: North Fort Myers, Florida or the Naples Community Hospital Blood Center: Naples, Florida.
