Gilbert Miller

After school, Gib enlisted in the Marine Corps and served overseas. Upon his return home, he met his future wife Jean at a skating rink in Centralia.

Gib and Jean married in 1959 and moved to Walla Walla Washington where he went to work for Safeway. It was in Walla Walla that their first daughter Carrie was born. Two years later they returned to Centralia and welcomed another daughter, Lori.

In 1966 the family moved to Tumwater where Gib began his career with the Tumwater Police Dept. Three and a half years later, he was named Policeman of the month by the Young Men’s Business Association. Gib was well known in the community as Sarge. After 26 years of service with the City Gib retired from the department.

Gib spent many summer weeks camping with his family at Riffe Lake or traveling to weekend softball tournaments. He enjoyed hunting trips in the fall with his son-in-law, Frank. He loved old western movies, particularly those starring John Wayne, who he was thrilled to meet in person during a trip to Ocean Shores.

Gib always got a kick out of telling tall tales, or as we now fondly call them “lies”, to his daughters and grandchildren or to anyone else who would listen.

Gib and jean bought a couple of acres and enjoyed some gardening. As far as Gib was concerned, playing with the tractor was the main event.

Gib was a realist, a joker and honest. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Gib leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Jean along with their two daughters Carrie (Jeff) Boyd, Lori (Frank) O’Dell; 3 grandchildren Bryan (Joliann) Malloy, Andrea (Rylan) Baker, and Trevin O’Dell; 2 great grandchildren Joseph and Anna Malloy, and many friends and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Ethel Miller, his brother John Miller, and his nephew Ward Miller.

“I give you this one thought to keep, I’m with you still, I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow; I am the diamond glints on snow

I am the sunlight on the ripened grain; I am the gentle autumn rain

When you wake in the mornings hush; I am the swift uplifting rush

I am the singing birds in flight; I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not think of me as gone, as I am with you in each new dawn…”

A celebration of life will be held at Mills & Mills in Tumwater on September 1, 2017 at 1pm. A reception will follow at the family home, 2218 Sapp Rd SW Tumwater WA 98512. Anyone whose life was touched by Gib is welcome to join his family and friends on this day.

Feel free to dress however casual you would like, Gib would want it that way. In place of black, wear blue to honor his service to our community.

In honor of this great man, in lieu of flowers please donate to: South Sound Alzheimer’s Council - c/o Dawn Peterson Garden Courte - 606 Lilly Rd NE - Olympia, WA 98506