Lawrence Edmund Reverend Gilbert, Sr.

Reverend Lawrence Edmund Gilbert, Sr., was called home into the arms of the Lord on August 8, 2008 in Austin, Texas. He was born on October 12, 1915 in St. Cloud, Florida, to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gilbert. Larry, as he was called, lived at The Masonic Children's Home in St. Petersburg, Florida from 1920 to 1930. He moved to Texas and attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio and graduated from Austin College in Sherman.

After completing his M.A. in Theology at Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, Larry faithfully served as a Chaplain in The United States Navy at El Toro Marine Base during World War II and at Midway Island during the Korean War. He continued his career as Chaplain of the Texas Department of Corrections in both Angleton and Sugarland, Texas, and earned an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston in 1958.

Following his years of service in the U.S. Navy, Larry began a career spanning many years as a Presbyterian minister. His first pastorate was in Port Lavaca, Texas at First Presbyterian Church. While there, he became a member of the Masonic Lodge. His last pastorate was in Laredo, Texas, at the First Presbyterian Church. Larry then worked as Chaplain for Ewing Records in San Antonio. After retirement from full-time ministry in 1988, he served on the staff at Little Church of La Villita in San Antonio, Texas, where he often preached as well as performed more than 700 weddings.

Reverend Gilbert is survived by many who will dearly miss him, including his wife of 66 years, Mildred Burns Gilbert of Austin, son Lawrence Edmund Gilbert, Jr. and wife Christine Mast Gilbert of Austin; daughters Marguerite Reavis of San Antonio, Mary Lynn Jordan of Kennedale, Rebecca Carpenter of Carrollton and their husbands Paul Reavis, Brad Jordan and Bob Carpenter; son Thomas Gilbert and wife Johna Maurer Gilbert of Austin; grandsons Jonathan Gilbert, Owen Gilbert, David Jordan, Larry Reavis, Todd Reavis, Eric Reavis, Jeff Reavis; granddaughters Rebecca Berry, Jennifer Watts, Leanne Libby, Kristin Kuck, Heather Gilbert, Meredith Gilbert, Christy Lynn Gilbert, Colleen Gilbert; great-grandchildren Carolyn Reavis, Gloria Reavis, Hannah Reavis, Seth Reavis, Tyler Watts, Bradford Watts, Walker Berry and nephew Frank Gilbert of California.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Little Church of La Villita, 418 Villita St., San Antonio, TX 78205. Internment in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.