ROBERT G. GILBERT

ROBERT G. GILBERT, 96, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Born July 8, 1925 in Cecil, Ohio, he was the son of the late John and Edna (Kopp) Gilbert. On July 12, 1947 he married Mary Jane Simpson, who preceded him in death on Nov. 26, 2013. He was a B-24 Ball Turret Gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II stationed in Italy. He retired in 1981 from the U.S. Postal Service after 35 years as the Cecil Rural Mail Carrier. He was a member of the Grace Presbyterian Church of Fort Wayne, the Ohio Rural Letter Carriers Association, and past State Officer, American Legion and Kiwanis. He was a former Paulding Exempted Village School Board Member, and an original Vantage School Board Member. He farmed for many years and participated in the Honor Flight for Veterans. Robert is survived by three children, Dave (Nancy) Gilbert, Dorothy Gilbert and Debra (Dave) Zimmerman, all of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, John (Jamie) Gilbert, Susan (Jeremy) Foutz, Laura (Matt) Higgins, Allison (Steve) Schneider, and Brian Zimmerman; great-grandchildren, Sarah, Elliott, Evan, Isaac and Aubrey. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Jane Zielke. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding, Ohio, with visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service. Visitation also from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in Rochester Cemetery, Cecil, with military graveside rites accorded by VFW Post 587. Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurses and Hospice of Fort Wayne. Friends may share condolences at www.denherderfh.com