Gertrude C. Meninger, 89, former business executive

Gertrude C. Meninger, 89, a former business executive who chaired the American Association of University Women scholarship program for many years, died Saturday at Abington Memorial Hospital of heart failure.

Mrs. Meninger, who lived most recently at the Rydal Park Retirement Community in Jenkintown, had two careers.

After graduating with a degree in Latin from Montclair State University in New Jersey, she went to work for Burrelles Luce Inc., a company that tracks international media on behalf of the public-relations industry.

She rose to become a vice president before retiring at 62.

She then went to work for a boss to whom she was well-known: Frank J. Meninger, her husband.

Frank Meninger had developed equipment for printing freshness-expiration dates on dairy-product containers and had established the Coding Corp. of America. Mrs. Meninger took care of the business affairs, and worked into her 80s, said her daughter, Lynne Whipple.

Mrs. Meninger was born in East Orange, N.J., was raised in Spring Lake, and eventually settled in Livingston. For several years, she lived in Warwick Township, Bucks County.

Whipple recalled that her mother was an indispensable Brownie leader. "When she left the Brownie troop, the troop fell apart," she said.

Perhaps it was that Latin training, but Mrs. Meninger had an extraordinary vocabulary, her daughter said. "She used it so well," she said, "and people admired her for that."

She and her husband were inveterate travelers, taking cruises to Asia, South America, indeed all over the world, Whipple said.

In addition to her husband of 66 years and daughter, Mrs. Meninger is survived by two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Private services and burial will be held today.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Abington Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1200 Old York Rd., Abington, Pa. 19001.