John Holman Gilbert Jr.

Pebble Beach ~ John H. Gilbert, Jr., passed away peacefully at Community Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Born to John H. and Ida Gilbert in Stone, Kentucky, he was a graduate of Staunton Military Academy in Virginia. John attended Brown University in Rhode Island where he was a member of the track and field team, swim team and a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business.

John enlisted in the Army Air Force at the beginning of World War II and received his pilot training on P-38 Lightnings in Lubbock, Texas. As a P-38 Fighter Pilot with the 12th Air Support Command, John took part in virtually all the campaigns engaged in by the American Army Air Force in the European theater including the North Africa campaign, the invasion of Sicily, the early assault of Salerno, the Battle of Anzio and was a member of the 64th Fighter Wing in France. Following World War II, John served tours as a Lieutenant Colonel in Japan, California, Massachusetts, with NORAD and, his final tour, as part of the Allied Forces Central Europe in Fontainebleau, France.

After retiring from the Air Force, John and Pym settled in Pebble Beach where John spent over 25 years as a Northern California Golf Association Official, was a member of the Air Force Association and the Monterey Peninsula Country Club.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Pym; his children, Christine M. (Gary) Gilbert Thorns of Westlake, CA, Jeffrey S. (Terri) Gilbert of Simi Valley, CA and Patricia M. Gilbert of Laguna Niguel, CA and his grandson, Christopher S. Gilbert, a student at the University of Kansas.

Friends are invited to a memorial mass Friday, November 18 at 10:00 AM at Carmel Mission Basilica. Interment with full military honors will take place at Riverside National Cemetery in Southern California. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carmel Mission Restoration Fund, 3080 Rio Rd., Carmel, 93923. Please visit www.thepaulmortuary.com to sign John’s guest book and leave messages for his family.

Arrangements under the direction of The Paul Mortuary, Pacific Grove, CA.