Mitchell Gilbert Jr.
Mitchell Gilbert Jr., 91, of Wakefield, Rhode Island, formerly of Galesburg, passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Born in Kentucky, he was the son of the late Mitchell Gilbert and Edna (Cottongim) Gilbert. He was the beloved husband of the late Shirley (Gilliam) Gilbert.
Mitchell enjoyed playing golf and practicing the trumpet. At a young age, he joined the United States Air Force and served in England as a Military Police Officer, very quickly rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Upon his return home, he began a long career in finance: managing offices in northern Indiana (near Chicago), then Dallas, Texas, followed by offices in Galesburg and Bloomington, Illinois. In Galesburg he became a Vice President of Loan Operations at a Savings & Loan, supervising many satellite offices throughout central Illinois. He loved interacting with the public, and his charm and personality allowed him to excel. And his wife Shirley was a very intelligent and insightful partner who helped guide him with wisdom beyond her years.
In his own way, Mitchell was very much a renaissance man, expanding on the many skills he acquired from the self-sufficiency of Kentucky farm life. There was no project too difficult to tackle: he demonstrated skill in carpentry, mechanics, home construction and renovation, and hobbies such as handmade leather work. Mitchell was a member of the Masons, and the Galesburg Exchange Club, participating in charitable activities sponsored by these organizations.
He is survived by his children, Robert (Minh) Gilbert and John (Donna) Gilbert, and sisters Carolyn Griffin, and JoAnn (Russell) Marshall.
Mitchell is predeceased by his wife Shirley Gilbert, his son David (Diane) Gilbert, his sisters Letha (Harold) Williams and Deborah (Roy) Masterson, and brother Ralph (Betty) Gilbert.
A funeral service for Mitchell will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 2 pm in the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St. Wakefield, Rhode Island.
The service will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@avery-stortifuneralhome4853/streams
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607.
