Gerald Lee Fry

OBITUARY FOR GERALD L. FRY Edwards Memorial “Well done, good and faithful servant” are the words that Pastor Gerald Lee Fry heard on the morning of February 24, 2021, when he met his Savior face to face. Gerry was born on August 25, 1932, in El Cajon, California, to Raymond and Irene Fry. From an early age, he possessed a rare passion for God. He eventually enrolled at a Bible college – Southern California College – to prepare for the ministry. By the age of 19, he was a popular traveling evangelist, traveling and preaching constantly. It was on just such a trip that he met his lifetime partner, Peggy Jourdan. Within weeks of their first meeting, they were married on December 8, 1952 in Durango, Colorado. It was a courtship that was to last for over 68 years. In 1959, Gerry felt the call to pastoral ministry and settled down in Southern California, to serve Glendora First Assembly of God. He went on to pastor Full Gospel Tabernacle in Fresno, California, and then in 1969 he accepted the call to a small church in San Jose, CA, called Calvary Community Church. That little church of a hundred grew to over 4,000 by the late 1970’s and saw many come to an understanding of what it means to walk in the power of the Christian faith. Gerry was an entrepreneur, establishing annual leadership conferences and a 24/7 prayer center, as well as various missionary ventures. He was a world-renowned speaker and author. He never wavered from his passion to know God and worship Him, in his priority to love Christ first, in his total devotion to his family, and in his dedicated service to the Church. He was first and foremost “a man after God’s own heart.” Gerry is survived by his wife Peggy; his son Steven Fry and his wife Nancy; his daughters, Shannon Hoye and her husband Mike, and Candace Strubhar and her husband Steve; six grandchildren, Cameron Fry and his wife Lyssah, Kelsey Wilking and her husband Josh, Caleigh Knight and her husband Wesley, Greyson Hoye, Emerson Strubhar and Ellery Strubhar, as well as four great-grandchildren: Caeden Fry, Everly Fry, Alouette Knight and Milo Fry. He is also survived by his sisters, Marilyn Robbins and her husband Jim, and Darlene Paul; along with several nieces and nephews.