Obituary of Walter E. Gilbert

Walter Edward Gilbert, 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at the West Melbourne Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Corning, New York to Clifford O. and Ruth D. Gilbert. He was raised in Albany, New York, with his parents and four sisters. Walter and his family moved to Florida in 1966. He attended Bryant College in Providence, RI. During World War II, Walter served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a navigator bombardier in the 15th Air Force. He reached the rank of First Lieutenant. In August 1944, Walter participated in air raids on the Ploesti oil fields in Romania. During the raid, his B-24 was shot down and the entire crew survived. He was captured and became a Prisoner of War. For his valor, he was awarded the Air Medal, an Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. Walter built a career in business in Massachusetts and, subsequently, in Florida. He retired from a management position in the F.W. Woolworth Company in 1982. In retirement, he and his wife, Mary, enjoyed summers in the Thousand Islands in Upstate New York, He was an avid fisherman, who enjoyed nothing more than being on the water with a fishing rod in his hands. Walter is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Staley Gilbert, two sons, Charles and daughter-in-law Nancy of Coral Springs, Florida; Clifford and daughter-in-law, Dana, of Tequesta, Florida; a daughter, Ruth McCully and son-in-law, Tom McCully of Great Falls, Virginia, daughter-in-law, Christina Gilbert of Palm Bay, Florida, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Walter Edward Gilbert, Jr. of Palm Bay, Florida. Arrangements entrusted to Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care, Melbourne, FL (321) 724-2222. Walter’s funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 27, at The Historic Chapel of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 50 West Strawbridge Ave, Melbourne, Florida. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.