Donald Ray Gilbert

DONALD RAY GILBERT, age 83, of Bee, Virginia went to be with the Lord on Monday (November 3, 2025) at Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, Kentucky. Born March 5, 1942 in Bee, Virginia, he was a son of the late Perry and Martha O'Quinn Gilbert. He married the love of his life, Roevena Boyd on March 13, 1965 and the two of them built a beautiful life together. A lifelong resident of Dickenson County, he was a member of Duty View Primitive Baptist Church. He had been employed for many years as a coal miner, having worked at the South Hollow Mine. He enjoyed working on cars, hunting and fishing, but nothing brought him greater joy than spoiling his grandkids and great-grandkids.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Roevena Gilbert; his step-mother, Mary Gilbert; two brothers, Carlos "Bud" Gilbert and James "Jim" Gilbert; and one sister, Phyllis Cook.
Survivors include three children, James (Maggie) Gilbert of Castlewood, Virginia, Tammy (Harvey) Helton of Vansant, Virginia and Angela (Jeff) Helton of Bee, Virginia; seven grandchildren, Aaron (Ashley) Gilbert, Jamie Gilbert, Dustin (Savannah) Helton, Shane (Brittany) Gilbert, Samantha (William) Ball, Kayla (Matthew) Gilbert, and Allison Christian; twelve great-grandchildren, Samuel Helton, Kimber Helton, Aiden Gilbert, Kameron Gilbert, Kayde Gilbert, Trinity White, Cassidy Gilbert, Calliope Gilbert, Emma Gilbert, Kinsley Gilbert, Lucas Gilbert, and Alyssa Beth Ratliff; one sister, Dorothy (Garnett) Stevens; one brother, Garnell Gilbert; and several nieces and nephews whom he loved as his own.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 AM Friday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Troy Harris and Rev. Dennis McGlothlin officiating. Interment followed in the O'Quinn-Gilbert Cemetery on Steve's Branch, Bee, Virginia.
Pallbearers were Dustin Helton, Denver Owens, William Ball, Garnett Stevens, Aaron Gilbert, Jamie Gilbert, Shane Gilbert, Matthew Gilbert and Michael James.
Honorary pallbearers were Savannah Helton, Samantha Ball, Kayla Gilbert, Ashley Gilbert, Brittany Gilbert, and Allison Christian.
The family received friends after 6 PM Thursday at Honaker Funeral Home where an evening service was conducted at 7 PM with Elder Jim Duty officiating.
Online condolences may be made at www.honakerfuneralhome.net.