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John Richard Gilbert
Born: October 26th, 1938
Died: September 24th, 2023
Obituary
John Richard Gilbert, 84, died peacefully with his wife by his side on Sept. 24, 2023, in Everett, Washington.
He was born on Oct. 26, 1938 to Vera McGlashan Gilbert and Earl Gilbert in Akutan.
He and his mother and brother were evacuated in 1941 from the Aleutian Islands during WWII and moved first to Oregon to the home of Earl Gilbert’s parents.
They moved to Washington state for a few years before moving to Ketchikan when John Gilbert was in first grade. He attended Ketchikan schools throughout his youth, and graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1956. John was salutatorian, student body president, and captain of the Kayhi basketball team that won the Alaska Championship in 1956.
He attended Yakima Junior College for two years where he also played basketball. In 1959 he married Audrey Stump, who was his high school sweetheart. He continued his education at the University of Washington for two more years. The couple returned to Ketchikan in 1963, accompanied by their first daughter, Jody, who was born in Seattle in 1962.
They had two more daughters, Susan, born in 1964, and Kimberly, born in 1967. Susan died from head injuries after a fall at Bell Island Resort when she was 5 ½.
In 1967, following employment at the Standard Oil plant in Ketchikan, Mr. Gilbert, along with another plant employee, purchased the Chevron service station on Tongass Avenue, which they renamed Westside Service. Mr. Gilbert remained owner until 2000, when he sold the business. During the years he was an owner, a new station was built across the street to allow for expansion.
Mr. Gilbert, along with several friends, purchased property on Camp Island by the LeConte Glacier near Wrangell, where he enjoyed duck hunting for years.
“When a new cabin was built, the island became more family friendly, and was a destination for the Gilbert family and friends for many memorable outings,” his family writes.
While Mr. Gilbert enjoyed hunting for deer and moose hunting, salmon fishing was his favorite activity. He also was an active bowler, which included a 300-game bowled during league play.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert moved to Arlington, Washington, in 2000 to be closer to children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in the greater Seattle area.
After 10 years in Arlington, they moved to Mill Creek, Washington, and then to Everett where they built an “in-law” apartment onto the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Jody and Larry Byrne.
Mr. Gilbert was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, but was able to remain living at home with Audrey until his death.
Mr. Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Vera; brother, Earl Jr.; sister, Helen Barber; and daughter, Susan.
He is survived by his wife, Audrey; daughters, Jody (Larry) Byrne, and Kimberly (Jim) Eichner; grandchildren, Jeremy (Nicole) Byrne, Sarah (Thomas) Byrne Diener, Doug Eichner, Frances (Noah Bower) Eichner and Katie Sue Eichner; great-grandchildren, Ava, Carson and Madison Byrne and Daphne Diener; sisters, Judy Wright-Hoyt and Geri Berube, and their families; and many cousins.
John Richard Gilbert
Born: October 26th, 1938
Died: September 24th, 2023
Obituary
John Richard Gilbert, 84, died peacefully with his wife by his side on Sept. 24, 2023, in Everett, Washington.
He was born on Oct. 26, 1938 to Vera McGlashan Gilbert and Earl Gilbert in Akutan.
He and his mother and brother were evacuated in 1941 from the Aleutian Islands during WWII and moved first to Oregon to the home of Earl Gilbert’s parents.
They moved to Washington state for a few years before moving to Ketchikan when John Gilbert was in first grade. He attended Ketchikan schools throughout his youth, and graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1956. John was salutatorian, student body president, and captain of the Kayhi basketball team that won the Alaska Championship in 1956.
He attended Yakima Junior College for two years where he also played basketball. In 1959 he married Audrey Stump, who was his high school sweetheart. He continued his education at the University of Washington for two more years. The couple returned to Ketchikan in 1963, accompanied by their first daughter, Jody, who was born in Seattle in 1962.
They had two more daughters, Susan, born in 1964, and Kimberly, born in 1967. Susan died from head injuries after a fall at Bell Island Resort when she was 5 ½.
In 1967, following employment at the Standard Oil plant in Ketchikan, Mr. Gilbert, along with another plant employee, purchased the Chevron service station on Tongass Avenue, which they renamed Westside Service. Mr. Gilbert remained owner until 2000, when he sold the business. During the years he was an owner, a new station was built across the street to allow for expansion.
Mr. Gilbert, along with several friends, purchased property on Camp Island by the LeConte Glacier near Wrangell, where he enjoyed duck hunting for years.
“When a new cabin was built, the island became more family friendly, and was a destination for the Gilbert family and friends for many memorable outings,” his family writes.
While Mr. Gilbert enjoyed hunting for deer and moose hunting, salmon fishing was his favorite activity. He also was an active bowler, which included a 300-game bowled during league play.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert moved to Arlington, Washington, in 2000 to be closer to children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in the greater Seattle area.
After 10 years in Arlington, they moved to Mill Creek, Washington, and then to Everett where they built an “in-law” apartment onto the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Jody and Larry Byrne.
Mr. Gilbert was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, but was able to remain living at home with Audrey until his death.
Mr. Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Vera; brother, Earl Jr.; sister, Helen Barber; and daughter, Susan.
He is survived by his wife, Audrey; daughters, Jody (Larry) Byrne, and Kimberly (Jim) Eichner; grandchildren, Jeremy (Nicole) Byrne, Sarah (Thomas) Byrne Diener, Doug Eichner, Frances (Noah Bower) Eichner and Katie Sue Eichner; great-grandchildren, Ava, Carson and Madison Byrne and Daphne Diener; sisters, Judy Wright-Hoyt and Geri Berube, and their families; and many cousins.