HARPSWELL — Gertrude L. Knight, 88, died Monday, June 24, 2013, at Mid Coast Hospital with her granddaughter Rachael by her side.

She was the daughter of Margaret Anna (Fitzgerald) Barnes and William Stover Barnes. A lifelong resident of Harpswell, she was born in the same home as her father and his mother in North Harpswell on September 23, 1924. She attended the North Harpswell school, and graduated from Brunswick High School, class of 1943. She married William R. Knight on October 14, 1944. Bill died on August 15, 1996.

Gert and Bill loved to travel. They often said they had been from Newfoundland to the Yucatan Peninsula and from Key West to Point Barrow, Alaska and all points in between in their slide-in camper and pickup. They safaried in Kenya, enjoyed the sights of Moscow, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Athen, Rome, Giza, and other lesser known destinations.

Mrs. Knight was employed at Bath Iron Works during WW II in the welding department. When the U.S. Post Office published the “Rosie the Riveter” postage stamp in 1999, she and nearly 100 other ladies that had worked that trade during the war were invited to a special event in Portland for the unveiling of the new stamp. It was “Rosie the Riveter day”; lunch, speeches and certificates. She was proud of her contribution to the war effort.

In the early 60s, Gert heard the job of local substitute mail carrier was open and applied. She was told it was no job for a woman. She argued that it could be no more difficult than bearing 5 children and got the job. An early lesson in equality was gained by all her children. She held various jobs in the Post Office, but loved her job as regular mail carrier most. She delivered the mail to all of West Harpswell for 15 years.

She also served as a poll worker beginning in the 1950’s until just a few years ago when it became difficult for her. She loved the job because she was able to reconnect with many of the people she had delivered mail to through the years. She will be missed by many.

She was predeceased by a daughter, Margaret Knight; two sisters, Dorothy LeMay and Esther Lumsten; and a granddaughter, Ellen Camp.

She is survived by two daughters, Rose Marie Knight and her partner Vic Goodson and Jean L. Camp and her husband Richard, all of Midland, TX; two sons, James W. Knight and his wife Rosalind and Roy A. Knight and his wife Debra, all of Harpswell; a sister Virginia Wright of Harpswell; 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Friends may visit from 5-7 pm Wednesday, July 3rd at the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick. A funeral service will be held at 2 pm, on Friday, July 5th at the funeral home. Interment will be in West Harpswell Cemetery.

Condolences to the family may be posted and a “Tribute” of her life viewed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.