Obituary of John Gilbert

John Edward Gilbert, Jr., 65, of Duffield passed away Thursday morning (May 15, 2014) after a lengthy illness. He was born in Jewell Ridge, VA on Aug. 27, 1948 to the late John Edward Gilbert, Sr. and Juanita Brown Gilbert. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Natalie Hamlin Gilbert and one brother, Curtis Gilbert. John was a 1967 graduate of Richlands High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Nov. 1967. He was deployed twice to Vietnam and was honorably discharged on Nov. 10, 1973. He was a lifetime member of the John Fox Jr. VFW Post No. 5715 in Big Stone Gap. He was a former member of the Pea Pickers Square Dancing Club and president of the Hill Country Camping Club. John retired from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Jacobs Creek Job Corps, Bristol, Tn. He was an active member of Thomas Village Baptist Church and a member of the choir. He is survived by his wife, Vivian Bishop Gilbert; two sons, Mark Gilbert, Hudson, New Hampshire and Michael Gilbert, Albuquerque, New Mexico; two step-sons, Shannon (Tracey) Giles and Rocky (Christie) Blakely; two step-granddaughters, Kayla and Santana and two step-grandsons, Chance and Gage; one step-great-grand daughter, Blakely; two brothers, Robert Gilbert and Donnie Gilbert, Bristol, Tn; one sister, Elizabeth Gilbert, Jewell Ridge, Va.; several nieces and nephews and his special furry friend, Pilgrim. The family will receive friends from 4-7pm Thursday (May 22, 2014) at Thomas Village Baptist Church, Duffield, Va. and other times at the residence. Funeral services will follow at 7pm with Bro. Keith Walsworth officiating. Music will be provided by the church choir and Brenda Walsworth. Graveside services will be conducted 11am Friday at Holston View Cemetery with military graveside rites to be presented by the John Fox Jr. VFW Post No. 5715 of Big Stone Gap along with the Virginia National Guard. The family requests those going to the graveside to meet at the funeral home at 10:15AM. Pallbearers will be Joe Carter, Phillip Stanley, Don Carter, Paul Arwood, Jessee Wood, and Bill Bowen. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to Thomas Village Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 267, Duffield, Va. 24244 or to the Bancroft Bible Camp, 141 Bancroft Private Drive, Kingsport, Tn. 37660. The family would like to thank Drs. James R. Herman, Ibrahim Nakhoul, and Wesley Eastridge and their staffs for their care and concern during John's Illness. Also, thanks to Pastor Buddy Osborne and Janey for the love shown the family during this time. Carter-Trent/ Scott County Funeral Home is serving the Gilbert family.