Gertrude "Trudi" Walend (June 25, 1943 – May 14, 2024) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives who represented the 68th and 113th districts[1][2][3][4][5][6] (including constituents in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties) from her election in 1998[3] until her retirement in 2009.
She was then appointed to the seat again in 2012 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rep. W. David Guice.
[7][8] When she ran for a new full term, she was defeated by a narrow margin in the May 2012 Republican primary.
[9] A businessperson in Brevard, North Carolina, Walend at one time held the position of House Republican Whip.
Walend died at the age of 80 on May 14, 2024, due to complications from a fall.