Tommy Eugene Gilbert

He was born August 19, 1957, in Iredell County and was the son of the late John and Mary Blankenship Gilbert. Prior to his disability retirement, he had worked with Bernhardt Furniture, Intercraft Industries, and Accuma. He was an avid NASCAR and Rusty Wallace fan, an avid tool collector, and enjoyed deep-sea fishing. He was a loving son, husband, father, brother and uncle was excited about the upcoming birth of his grandchild.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Linda Brown and Martha Gilbert; and two brothers, Richard Allen “Pete” Gilbert and Rudy Gilbert.

He is survived by his wife, Marsden Broadway Gilbert, whom he married on June 2, 1984; a son, Christopher Eugene Gilbert of Garden City, SC; a daughter, Amanda Carol Gilbert and her fiancé, Jozef Eugene Ryder, of Cleveland; two brothers, Johnny “Lee” (Martha) Gilbert of Newton and Sonny Gilbert of California; three sisters, Betty Hicks of Newton, Marcella Rubio of Rockingham, and Sheila Haire of Maiden; numerous nieces and nephews; and one grandchild on the way.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 12:00 PM Saturday, February 14, 2015, at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home.

Graveside funeral service celebrating Tommy’s life will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday at Mt. Ruhama Baptist Church Cemetery in Maiden with the Rev. Russell Williams and the Rev. Tom Teichroew officiating.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.

For those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, 128 S. Tryon Street, Suite 1588, Charlotte, NC 28202.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.