Robert P Gilbert

Robert Parks Gilbert, 89, of Birmingham, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2015. The family will receive visitors at Valley Chapel in Homewood on Monday, February 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. A private burial will take place on Tuesday, February 17, at Elmwood Cemetery with the Rev. Fred Webster officiating.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Carol Huske Gilbert; two sons, Carey Parks Gilbert II and his wife, Patty, of Birmingham, and Steven Huske Gilbert of Birmimgham; a daughter, Virginia Gilbert Loftin, and her husband, Robert Lee Loftin III, of Birmingham; and three grandchildren, Carey Parks Gilbert III of Washington, D.C., Mary Ansley Gilbert of Birmingham, and Emily Perrin Britt and her husband, Jeremy Britt, of Lexington, Ky. The family is deeply grateful to his many caregivers from Brookdale Place Senior Living, Alacare Home Health and Hospice, and Home Instead, especially Candace Harris.

The only child of Ila Deane Griffin Gilbert and Robert Lester Gilbert, he was born on November 20, 1925, in Prospect, Tenn., and was reared in Nashville. He attended Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tenn., then graduated from the University of Alabama in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, based at Clark Field in the Phillippines.

He spent his professional career at TCI/United States Steel, retiring in 1984 after leading the design and installation of computer systems for tracking production and shipment of steel products at the Fairfield Works.

He was an active United Methodist layman for many years, engaged in conference, district and local church activities. He was a charter member of Oakmont United Methodist Church, a past president of the First Sertoma Club of Birmingham, and a Life Loyal member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. After retirement, he and his beloved wife traveled the world together, volunteered at UAB Hospital and thoroughly enjoyed being grandparents to Parks, Emily and Mary Ansley.

The family suggests memorials to Alzheimer's of Central Alabama, 300 Office Park Drive, Suite 220, Birmingham, AL 35223; www.alzca.org.