Funeral services for Raymond Roy Gilbert, 76, West Plains, will be 2 pm Thursday, May 14, 1998, in the Rose Chapel of the Robertson-Drago Funeral Home of West Plains, with the Rev. Glenn Murray and Elder Cletis Powell officiating.
Mr Gilbert died at 6:55 am Tuesday, May 12, 1998, at Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains. He was born July 15, 1921, at Roosevelt in Douglas County, the son of Riley and Mary Lora Tooley Gilbert.
He grew up in the Twin Bridges area where he attended Big Springs School, and on July 27, 1951, was married at Hardy, Arkansas, to Rosie Parsons.
Mr Gilbert was a veteran of World War II having served overseas with the US Army Air Force.
He was a retired farmer, carpenter and was a former employee of the city of West Plains. Mr Gilbert enjoyed hunting, fishing, and his garden which he shared with others.
He was of the Baptist faith with his membership in the Big Springs Missionary Baptist Church since early manhood and where he had served as superintendent for many years.
Mr Gilbert will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife, Rosie Gilbert, of the family home; one daughter, Jean Gilbert, West Plains; three sisters, Opal Pierce and husband, Earl, Willow Springs, Lucille Collins and husband, Hubert, Minneola, Kan,, and Josie McDowell and husband, Max, Meade, Kan.; two sisters in law, Dortha Gilbert, Fort Lupton, Colo., and Colleen Gilbert, Willow Springs; two aunts, Ella Collins, West Plains, and Edna Collins, Willow Springs; and many nieces and nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Olen Gilbert, Howard Gilbert, and Leo Gilbert; and one sister, Opaline Gilbert, who died in infancy.
Memorial contributions may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital and left at the funeral home.
The body will lie in state from noon today until service time at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors provided by American Legion Posts 23 and 374, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1828, AmVets Posts 989 and 127, and Disabled American Veterans Post 43.