Obituaries

Ronald Louis Gilbert, age 91, passed away at St. Elizabeth Hospice, Edgewood, KY, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Born in Old Town, Maine on December 12, 1934; he was the son of the late Louis R. Gilbert and Velma Evelyn Stairs Gilbert.

Ron served faithfully in the United States Air Force. He was stationed for many years in Las Vegas, Nevada and played Bb clarinet in the USAF Band. After transferring from Portland, Maine to Kentucky, he retired as the territory account manager of General Motors Chevrolet Division in his 50s. Serendipitously, he found love a second time in his life one fateful night at a Parents Without Partners dance, meeting Jean Hunt. He and Jean were married and wove their families together into one. After years in Kentucky, Jean and Ron lived for 25 years in Sun City, Arizona. While there, Ron continued his playing of the clarinet. He was a part of The Glendale Summer Band, The Sun City Concert Band and the Sun City Pops Band. In his downtime, Ron enjoyed hitting the putting green for a few holes of golf. This tremendous husband, father, son, grandpa and friend will be deeply missed and held dear in remembrance.

Ron was the dear husband of nearly 49 years to Lois “Jean” Gilbert; father to David Alan Gilbert and Paula Jean Davis; stepfather to Carol Ann Hunt, Kenneth (Jennifer) Hunt, and James (Donna) Hunt; brother to Jacqueline Miller and Carol Ann (Stan) Proctor; as well as grandpa to 12 grandchildren and great-grandpa to 13 great-grandchildren.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Joyce Ann Gilbert Vaughn and his sister Lorraine Webster.

A devout Catholic, Ron was a parishioner at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church. Ron’s life and faith will be celebrated and the repose of his soul prayed for at a Memorial Mass held at his home parish of St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, 5313 Madison Pike, Independence, KY 41051. Service date and time are pending at this moment.

Ron will be laid to rest at St. Cecilia Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church.