Glen David Gilbert

Glen David Gilbert, age 90 of Monticello, AR, went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 1, 2025, at Drew Memorial Baptist Health in Monticello. He was born in Corning, AR on June 6, 1934, to the late Joe D. and Essie Clark Gilbert. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by brothers, George, Herbert, Hubert, James, Melvin, OD Gilbert; and sisters, Louise Brown, Minnie Lee McPhail, Mary Lou McNealy and Ruby Jones.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years Mary Jane Lavender Gilbert; son, Tony Gilbert of Monticello, AR; daughter, Debbie Queen and husband Dee of Frankston, TX; daughter, Glenda Howard and husband Steve of Santa Fe, NM; grandson, Owen Queen and wife Tori of Neches, TX; great grandchildren, Jonathan and Penny Queen; sisters, Jo Rita Franks of Meridian, ID, Doris Callison of Oakley, CA, Joyce Elliot of Gardnerville, NV and Shirley Gilbert of Jefferson, TX; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
He worked at Dura Craft Boats for 17 years then started a career at the Arkansas Baptist Home for Children. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UAM and earned a Doctorate from Ole Miss. He began work with the Monticello School District as the Director of Community Education where he helped create many programs that are still in effect today. He retired in 1994.
While he loved fishing, hunting, card games and joke telling, he mostly loved spending time on the tennis courts with his buddies. He and Mary Jane spent most of their retirement years playing in Senior Olympic games all over the United States, playing Pickle Ball and working out at the gym. He and Mary Jane loved supporting all UAM college teams, feeding football players and mingling with friends while tailgating before home games. They received the ''Continuing the Connection Award'' from UAM in 2013. He was a member of Pauline Missionary Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 6, 2025, at Stephenson Dearman Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Rob Leonard officiating. There will be a visitation from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Monday preceding the funeral service at the funeral home. A private family graveside burial will follow. Serving as pallbearers are Sammy Moore, Fred Cooper, Jimmy Sawyer, David Carpenter, Hassan Sayyer and Evelyn Crutchfield. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Drs. Glen and Mary Jane Gilbert Scholarship Fund at UAM. Checks may be mailed to the UAM Foundation Fund, PO Box 3520, Monticello, AR 71656 or Online at Uamont.edu in memory of Dr. Glen Gilbert. You can sign Glen's guestbook registry on this page.