Gertrude Wardwell Obituary

Gertrude Zell Wardwell passed away on March 5th, 2011. Known as Trudy to her family and friends, she was born in Colorado Springs, Co in 1937 to postmaster Robert H. and Gladys Knowles Wardwell, a piano teacher and concert performer. Trudy attended CO SP High School, Mills and Whitworth Colleges to name a few. She received her B.A. in English from the latter in 1962. Tudy married Eugene Cordova in 1953, and had two children, Cathryn Jean Cordova-Garbers (Ward) of Rye, CO and Robert Carl Cordova (Lori) of Visalia, CA who survive her. Her adult grandchildren number 5. She's also survived by her brother, Robert H. Wardwell (Naeda) of Colorado Springs. Her many interests led her to several careers among which were her favorite as a Kindergarten teacher and least favorite, as a Real Estate broker. When she retired from that job in 1981, she left California and moved home to Colorado to a 71 acre homestead ranch in Westcliffe, with her beloved animals. Living in a old log cabin in dense woods and taking care of horses, summer cows, and donkeys to name a few, she penned a column for the weekly newspaper. It was called, "Meanwhile Back at Three Creeks Ranch", about all the wildlife. When her health failed, she moved to Pueblo, Co with her Chihuahua, Tico; Pomeranian, Pumpkin; and Rikki cat. She fell in love with the little town on the prairie with its' ethnic mix of open and friendly people. It reminded her of the once small prairie town of Colorado Springs where she'd grown up. The only regret she had about joining her Lord was having to leave her children and beloved pets behind but she firmly believed they'd all be reunited one day. "YOU THINK DOGS WILL NOT BE IN HEAVEN? I TELL YOU THEY WILL BE THERE LONG BEFORE ANY OF US." Robert Louis Stevenson. Ms. Wardwell's remains have been cremated and she asked that no service be held; attending funerals always left her sad. A memorial service will be held Sunday the 27th of March at her home. For more info, email [email protected]. Any memorial donations may be made locally at PAWS for Life Shelter at 800 N. Pueblo Blvd., Pueblo, Co 81003 (pawspueblo.org) or also to the Z Scholarship for women writers. Send your contribution to Z Scholarship, Windbreak House Retreats, P.O. Box 169, Hermosa, S.D. 577440-169; label the check "Z scholarship."