Obituary of Wilma L Gilbert

Wilma L. Gilbert, born on January 3, 1922 in Trimble County Kentucky, passed away at home on Saturday, April 18, 2020 of natural causes.  She was the daughter of the late Joseph E. Johnson Spillman and Minnie Wright Spillman of Pendleton, KY.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Robert F. Gilbert, and five sisters and two brothers - Ethel Mahuron, Anita Reynolds, Josephine Arnold, Lucille Hutcherson, Reva Burrows, Glen Spillman, and James Spillman. She is survived by her daughter, Linda L Gilbert, from Waltham, MA and Sarasota, FL.   She is also survived by her sister, Ruth Ehrman, who resides in Louisville, KY.

Wilma joined Sligo Baptist Church at age eleven. She was a member of First Baptist Church, St Petersburg, since 1957 where she taught Junior Girls Sunday School and helped in Vacation Bible School for several years.  Until she was unable to physically attend church, she enjoyed participating in the Grace Sunday School Class and hearing the Bible teachings expounded by the excellent teachers.  She enjoyed the fellowship of other seniors in the weekday Senior Adult Bible Study and activities.

After she married Robert in 1941 she lived in Chicago, IL where Robert worked for a construction company that was building floating docks for the Navy during WWII.  Wilma worked in the Labor Relations office at the Dodge plant where they were assembling B-29 engines.  After the war, she worked at The Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company until she and Robert moved to FL in 1949.  Robert continued to work in the construction industry until his retirement and Wilma was a homemaker.

She was a very giving person with a sweet spirit who loved to laugh and sing.  She had a “green thumb” and in her earlier years loved to work in the garden raising vegetables and tending a butterfly garden.   She will truly be missed.

A private graveside service will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery, St.Petersburg, FL.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to Samaritan’s Purse or your favorite charity in her honor.