Bobby Joe Gilbert

LAS VEGAS, NV - Bobby Joe Gilbert, age 77, of Las Vegas, NV (formerly of Haughton, LA) passed away on Friday, July 4, 2014, at Stanford Medical Center in Stanford, CA. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, July 10th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Hill Crest Funeral Home in Haughton, LA. Funeral services honoring and celebrating his life will be held at the funeral home at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 11th. Interment will follow in Hill Crest Memorial Park.

Bobby was born on May 26, 1937, in Holmesville, LA to the late Lewis and Marzie (Bridges) Gilbert. He married Gay (Albritton) Gilbert on February 24, 1962, and for the past 52 years they have enjoyed and shared a loving friendship and marriage. In addition to Gay, he is survived by their three daughters, Sonya Holdsworth and husband Richard “Bubba” of Las Vegas, NV, Sherri Branson and husband Jeff of Mattoon, IL, and Shanna Mack and fiance’ Greg Parry of Beijing, China; four grandchildren, Krista Holdsworth, Kasey Holdsworth, Chase Branson and Conor Branson; two sisters, Mary Alice Compton and husband Don of Oklahoma City, OK and Lynette Groves of Oklahoma City, OK ; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Gilbert of Dallas, TX, Inez Gilbert of Sahuarita, AZ and Norma Gilbert of Shreveport, LA, and many dear nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Tom Gilbert, William Gilbert, Doyle Gilbert, Harold Gilbert and John Gilbert.

Pallbearers will be his nephews: Danny Gilbert, Tom Gilbert, Jr., Gregg Gilbert, Mike Compton, Johnnie Gilbert, Jeremy Gilbert and Ricky Gilbert (honorary). Bobby’s niece Jessica Hemingway will sing. The service will be officiated by Reverend Billy Pierce.

Bobby was a 1956 graduate of Farmerville High School. Following high school he served in the US Air Force, worked at LA Army Ammunition Plant (25 years), and was a licensed independent insurance agent (8 years). He retired with his wife in Las Vegas where they spent the last 16 years.

Bobby loved his family more than anything else in the world and enjoyed spending time with them. He enjoyed traveling across the US with his wife Gay. He loved watching each and every sport and sports team but especially the Dallas Cowboys and LSU Tigers.

Bobby received the true gift of life by being the recipient of a single lung transplant in 2003 at Stanford Medical Center. He died of complications from a ruptured gall bladder and a compromised immune system.

Bobby was known for his positive attitude and unwavering determination. That attitude and determination is what lead him to be Stanford’s longest- living and oldest lung transplant survivor. The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Stanford Medical Center, especially the Lung Transplant Program, for their professional and loving care of Bobby Gilbert. Their care was second to none.

Memorials in his honor may be made to the Stanford Lung Transplant Program, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305.

You may offer condolences and sign the on-line guest book by visiting www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com.