Wilba Pettus Gilman

Pettus graduated from Henry Clay High School in 1954, where he excelled in football and was president of Future Farmers of America. He started raising Hereford cattle as a boy, alongside his

cousin Willie Gilman. During high school he raised chickens with Billy Stanley until a tornado destroyed their business. He graduated from the VPI Cadet Corps in 1958 with a degree in Animal Husbandry. While there, he met his best friend Bob Downing and remained a proud Hokie for the rest of his days. Pettus spent his career building businesses and relationships. He founded Gilman & Childress Insurance Agency and Gilman & Bateman Real Estate and took special pride working alongside his agents, son and grandson. In 2010, he purchased The Federal Club with three of his children,

making it a premier golf club in Glen Allen. Since 1967, he proudly served in the Ashland Kiwanis Club, opening his home Springmeadow for Kiwanis cookouts and church gatherings.

When he wasn’t on the farm, Pettus found peace at Stingray Point. He loved putting his feet in the bay, setting crab pots, eating oysters, and simply spending time with family and friends along

the water. Some of his grandchildren’s favorite memories are floating in the Bay and sitting beside a very patient Grandpa Moo, picking crabs together. Pettus was a trailblazer in racehorse syndication, along with partners Tom Bateman, Sonny

Bertozzi, Bob Downing and Tom Evelyn. Their first horse, “Owned by All,” included 30 friends in partnership and even landed a mention in Sports Illustrated. Over the years, his racing family

included Bug Eyed Betty, Ruby Time, Bug River, and Delta Moon. He remained a devoted supporter of the Camptown races until the final race was run.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilba Priddy Gilman and Emily Anderson Hope; his stepfather William Clay Stanley; his brother Buddy Gilman and sister-in-law Becky Gilman;

brother-in-laws Tom Evelyn and Jim Cochrane; and close friend Barbara Wells.

He was a warrior, tackling cancer with immunotherapy at 87. He fought hard to remain with family and friends. He was especially proud, just last month, of being the first male member of

the Gilman family to reach the age of 90. He leaves behind his sister Emily Clay Evelyn; former wife Judy Cochrane Hines; and his

children: Amy Remke (Chris), Will Gilman (Kathy), Chris Gilman (Renee), Anne Gail Jennings (Gary) and Kieffer Gilman-Strickland. Perhaps his favorite title of all was “Grandpa Moo” lovingly given to him by his grandchildren: Matt, Justin, Scarlett, Meredith, James, Danielle and Katie. He leaves behind one precious great-granddaughter, Tilly.

A friend to all, if you knew him you loved him. Hanover County will not quite feel the same

without him.

His family wishes to thank Suncrest Hospice and staff, especially nurse Jennifer for providing excellent care which extended his quality of life. Thanks to the many in-home caregivers who

kept him comfortable during the past two years, allowing him to remain on his beloved farm.

Special thanks to best neighbors Chris and Judy who adopted him and helped with everything!

Private family burial with a Celebration of Life to follow on November 29th.