Marjorie Gilbert

1924 - 2023

Marge Gilbert, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dedicated community volunteer died on Feb. 17, three days after her 99th birthday. She passed away in the Cupertino home where she and her late husband, Joe, had raised their six children. A stay-at-home mom, Marge was active in Cupertino's Welcome Wagon, serving as its president, helping to organize bridge groups and its gourmet club. She also volunteered at Faria School when it opened, serving as a room mother in her children's classes and volunteering to sell juice bars every Friday at the school with no cafeteria.Once her fifth child began school, Marge volunteered with Children's Home Society, helping to care for infants in a county hospital. She gave up that role when she delivered her sixth child, at 44, and became a full-time mom.She and Joe volunteered together and independently in the community. They helped found Belles and Beaus, raising money for the Santa Clara County Mental Health Association. They served as leaders of Cupertino National Little League, he as president, she as treasurer, and were active in Monta Vista High School's PTA and Booster Club. Marge again helped at Faria School, serving as PTA president and school volunteer, and she taught catechism at St. Joseph's of Cupertino Church. Marge was active in Cupertino Federated Women's Club, twice serving as president and was the long-time treasurer. She was supervisor of the neighborhood voting precinct for 25 years. She volunteered at Los Gatos Community Hospital for 30 years. She served as chair of the Girl Scout cookie drive several times.Her greatest cause was her family, and she attended all of her children's and grandchildren's games, dance performances, speech tournaments and theatre productions. There wasn't a student event she didn't volunteer to chaperone and transport students to. Marge was known for her cooking and her hospitality. She and Joe enjoyed sharing their home and backyard pool with friends, and their Fourth of July parties were legendary with 70 people or more.Marjorie Jean was born to Frank and Clara in Wheeler, Ore., where her father was a scaler for the lumber mill and her mother was postmistress and pianist for silent movies. The family briefly lived in Tacoma, Wash., then moved to Salem, Ore., where she graduated from Salem High School.She met her future husband as a journalism student at the University of Washington, where she pledged Kappa Delta Sorority and remained a member. She earned her degree from Washington and worked as a reporter for The West Seattle Herald until Joe returned from World War II duty, completed his degree and began his newspaper career. He later went to work for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, which moved the family from Washington to California.Marge Gilbert is survived by five children, Maureen, Kirk (Teri), Annette Iwamoto (Stan), Lori, and Chris (Tisha); two grandchildren, Kelly (Jesse) and Brett (Tian Tian); and three great-grandchildren (Audrey, Zach and Dash). She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Joseph Gilbert; her daughter, Sandra; her parents; her sister, Frances; and her brother, Charles.A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. at the IOOF Hall, 20589 Homestead Rd., Cupertino. Burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery is private.