Jerry V. Gilbert

Jerry Victor Gilbert, age 80, of Amarillo, TX, formerly of Harrah, OK, was born on December 9, 1928, in Tallulah, Louisiana. He was the son of Issac & Hattie Allen Gilbert. He left this life on Friday, March 20, 2009, at the VA Community Living Center in Amarillo, TX. Jerry was a strong believer in serving and defending his country and enlisted in the Army in March 1946. He loved to travel and the Army for him was the perfect way to see the world. He met and married the love of his life, Johanne Laspe in 1952 while stationed in Darmstadt, Germany. Jerry and Johanne were married 47 years and had 3 children. Jerry retired from the Army in 1966 after serving as a Motor Pool Sergeant. He then went to work for Civil Service where he worked for 18 years as an inspector of jet engine parts at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City and retired in 1984. He was a member of the VFW and the DAV. Jerry''s favorite hobbies were hunting, fishing and gardening. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Johanne and daughter, Susan. Survivors include 2 sons & daughters-in-law, Frank & Debbie Gilbert, Amarillo, TX, Michael & Kelly Gilbert, Ft. Worth, TX; 1 sister, Juanita Scherer, Ft. Worth, TX; 6 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. Services will be held 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at the Asa Smith Memorial Chapel, Harrah, OK, with Rev. Gary Eubanks officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah, OK. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK.