Claudia Ann Gilbert

1940 - 2024

Claudia Ann Gilbert

July 3, 1940 - August 8, 2024

Arroyo Grande, California - Claudia Ann Gilbert, 84, of Arroyo Grande passed away on Aug.8 at home, surrounded by her loving daughters, after a valiant battle with cancer. She was a devoted parishioner at St. Paul the Apostles Church.

A native Californian, Claudia Smith was born July 3, 1940, in Torrance, California, to Mabon ("Tiny") Smith, a Manhattan Beach police officer, and Helen (Chamberlain) Smith, who for years worked in Manhattan Beach public schools. She attended American Martyrs grammar school, the site of a famous visit by Mother Cabrini, the Catholic nun who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The visit left an indelible mark on Claudia, who years later would name her first born Cabrina.

Claudia loved to describe her idyllic childhood days in Manhattan Beach, back before development encroached and you could "ride a horse from the beach to Palos Verdes." She even had her own donkey, Nelly. She attended the then-new Marymount High School for girls, where she captained the basketball and volleyball teams, and was a member of the school's third-ever graduating class in 1958. She went on to study education at El Camino College/Cal Poly Pomona, where she belonged to the campus Newman Club.

Claudia and her late husband Ronald Smith welcomed two daughters, Cabrina and Marlo. After Ron died tragically at age 41 from complications of multiple sclerosis, Claudia met and married Frank Gilbert, the literal "boy next door." With the arrival of third daughter Allison in 1976, the family was complete.

A devoted mom, Claudia jumped headfirst into her kids' school activities, including plays, band concerts and school projects, and even formed a booster club (Lyres Club) to save the endangered band program from extinction.

Inspired by her own parents' Smith Realty business, Claudia and Frank started with a few rentals in southern California and grew that into Olive Tree and Gilbert Properties, in the central coast. Happily retired, Claudia and Frank together enjoyed supporting the Performing Art Center of SLO and The Clark Center as patrons; hitting the road in their "rock star" RV; and visiting timeshares in Sedona, Lake Tahoe and Newport. After Frank's passing, Claudia kept busy with oil painting, amateur architecture and landscape design, strumming the ukulele and playing cards and going to lunch with her girl gang.

Claudia was predeceased by her parents; brother, Robert ; Ron and Frank. She is survived by her daughters Cabrina (Laura) Gilbert, Marlo (Andy) Gilbert and Allison (Spencer) Gilbert; sister-in-law Donna Smith; nieces Sheleen (Casey) Osborne, Laurie (Mike) Hamel, Sheree Mills and Stacey (Don) Norton and many grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass Friday, August 16 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul The Apostle, 800 Bello St., Pismo Beach, California. Donations to Little Sisters of the Poor (littlesistersofthepoor.org).