Major General William Daniel Gilbert Sr.

Major General William Daniel Gilbert, Sr., retired United States Air Force, was a decorated veteran of three wars: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He died April 25 after a long battle with lung cancer. His parents, his son, David Toombs Gilbert, and brothers Harold, Johnny, and Tommy Gilbert preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy; daughter, Rebecca Ann Russell, and her husband, Syd; his son, William Daniel Gilbert, Jr. and his wife, Barbara; and his daughter-in-law, Karen Booker Gilbert, and three grandchildren: Taylor Elizabeth Russell, Jonathan William Russell, and William Leon Gilbert.

Born in Downsville, Louisiana on October 13,1924, to Lewis and Marzie Gilbert, he was the eldest of eight children and raised on a farm. He was drafted into the U.S Army in 1943 upon completion of high school. He served in India, Burma, and China during World War II. In 1946, he was discharged from the Army, moved back to Louisiana, met and married his wonderful wife, Dorothy Sue Toombs Gilbert. Soon afterward, he reenlisted in the Army Air Corps, took advantage of a direct commission into the Air Force Reserve and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He served in the Korean War as a personnel officer. After the Korean War, he worked as a personnel officer for the civil engineers and thus began a fulfilling and rewarding relationship with the civil engineering family. He graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1962. He entered the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in August of 1966 and graduated in August of 1967. During that time, General Gilbert earned his Master’s Degree in Business Management from George Washington University. In a later assignment, General Gilbert transferred to Civil Engineering. His outstanding career led to a promotion to Major General. He retired in August of 1982 as the Director of Engineering and Services for the entire Air Force and went on to serve as President of a Dallas architectural firm, Myrick-Newman-Dahlberg and Partners, until 1989. His final retirement was to Bossier City, Louisiana, where he resided until his death.

Bill was an avid golfer and loved to “tinker” with cars and putter around the house. He loved to garden and cultivated a huge vegetable garden, most of which was eaten by the birds! One of his favorite pastimes was to buy new cars, which he did routinely!

General Gilbert was an active member and deacon of the Airline Baptist Church and was an honorary member of the Sheriff Dean’s posse. He was a lifetime member of the West Monroe Masonic Lodge #419, a 32nd and honorary 33rd degree Mason of the York Rite, receiving both degrees in Scotland in 1958. He was the past president and fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). He has two international civil engineering awards, one military and one civilian, named in his honor.

General Gilbert was a wonderful Christian, husband, father, brother, uncle, military officer, mentor, and friend to all. He led a full and successful life, ensuring his children were well educated and had wonderful childhoods full of travel and new experiences.

Viewing will be held at Hill Crest Funeral Home, 601 Highway 80, Haughton, LA, from 6-8 PM Thursday, 29 April. Funeral services will be held Friday 30 April at 10:00 AM at the Airline Baptist Church, 4007 Airline Drive, Bossier City, LA, with Rev. Harrell Shelton and Bro. Billy Pierce officiating.Entombment will follow in Hill Crest Memorial Mausoleum with full military honors.

Pallbearers will be Johnnie Gilbert, Greg Gilbert, Mike Compton, Tommy Gilbert, Ricky Gilbert, Terry Ogburn, and Clint Wheeler. Honorary pallbearers will be Arno Easterly, Don English, Walter Stevens, members of the Adult 5 Men’s class, and the Airline Baptist Church deacons.

Special thanks goes to Odyssey Healthcare, specifically his nurse, Cathy Cannon, his nursing assistant, Chenita Miller, and social worker, Bettye John Tuminello.

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the memory of General Gilbert to the Legacy Fund at Airline Baptist Church.

You share your memories with the family by visiting www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com.

Hill Crest Funeral Home

318-949-9415