Rev. Dr. John C. Gilbert

The Reverend Dr. John Carlton Gilbert born to John and Clara (nee Clark) Gilbert in Rotan, Texas on February 10, 1928 passed away peacefully on July 22, 2011 at the age of 83. Dr. Gilbert was preceded in death by his wife and the love of his life, Joy Harper Gilbert, brothers Stanley and Lanvil Gilbert and his dog Emmy who was his companion for those tough years after the death of Joy. He is survived by his sons, Gib C. Gilbert and wife, Debbie, John C. Gilbert and wife, Elaine as well as his cherished grandchildren, Clay and Jenna Gilbert. Dr. Gilbert attended Tarleton State University where he played football and went on to obtain his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Divinity from the Perkins School of Theology at SMU. Dr. Gilbert retired in 1994 after serving over 4 decades as a pastor for the Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. John served churches in Brady, Shiner, Austin, Lockhart, Edinburg, Harlingen, and Corpus Christi as well as served as District Superintendent for the Rio Grande Valley and Victoria regions of the conference where he touched countless lives in times of happiness and comforted them in times of sadness. John was bestowed with an honorary Doctorate degree from Texas Wesleyan University where he also served on the board for a number of years. John was known not only as a great theologian but for his ability to deliver a sermon like none other. He was a great counselor, adviser, mentor and friend to those he pastored and worked with throughout his long and distinguished career. John never met a stranger and was dedicated to his family and the church and was known to forsake his own comfort for those around him. In the years following the diagnosis of dementia he was aware of the inevitable toll the disease was taking on him and while he was saddened and depressed by it, remarkably yet certainly characteristically, he showed an amazing grace and gentleness in the face of it which enabled him to take it one day at a time, as was God's plan for him... and he never lost his sense of humor. We want all of his friends and parishioners to know how much your thoughts, prayers and visits meant to him and his family and although we will miss him so much we were fortunate to have had his presence in our lives. The family also wants to thank the staff at Shady Hollow, Bobby, Rose, Tony and Leito as well as Resolution Hospice for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association ALZ.org. Pop, we miss you; please give a big hug to Mimi. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from one o’clock in the afternoon until two o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 27th of July at First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca, Austin TX. Funeral services will be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon Wednesday, the 27th of July at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Kathleen Jones officiating. Interment will be at half pass four o’clock in the afternoon in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Drive Austin TX. Condolences may be made to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com