Joseph “Joe” Harold Gilbert, 75, of Quincy, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, following a brief battle with cancer.
He was a graduate of Lewis County High School and Morehead State University with a Masters in Education. His love for teaching encompassed over 30 years at Central Elementary and Lewis County Middle School. Mr. Gilbert was integral in starting the county’s Science Fair program, with numerous students earning top awards over the years. He also helped coach Academic teams, developed products and teaching aids that were sold nationwide, and often had former students stop by long after graduation to say “hi” or tinker with projects.
Joe was the son of late Harold Gilbert and Clara Lee Dunaway Gilbert.
He lived a full life filled with love, humor, creativity, and faith. He loved fishing and spent many summers casting a line and telling stories. He is also well known for “fossil hunting” and would often be seen digging through road cuts and creek beds across the county. Joe made any number of scientific inventions over the years and even holds a patent for his oil shale “retort.” An avid reader and researcher, he enjoyed genealogy and sharing his finds with friends and family. He had a green thumb, tending to plants and flowers at his home, including impressive blueberries that were popular with his family and the local birds. He embraced woodworking in his retirement, gifting his creations to family, friends, and church members. Joe and his wife attended Garrison First Baptist Church.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years and eternal sweetheart, Rosemary Waters Gilbert; two daughters he loved dearly, Jodi (Dennis) Cauch of Georgetown and Sheri (Christoph) Uhlenbruch of Lexington; his grandchildren, whom he adored, Blake Adkins, Alexandra Adkins, Aaron “AJ” Cauch, and Jacen Cauch; his sister, Dorothy “Dottie” Pearl Logan of Quincy; brothers, Douglas “Doug” Gilbert Sr. of Quincy, Richard “Dick” (Beth) Gilbert of Pearisburg, Virginia, and Theodore “Ted” (Treva) Gilbert of Vanceburg; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Crystal Dawn Gilbert and Billie Carole “Cookie” Stone.
Joe will be greatly missed and leaves behind a legacy of kindness, nurturing, and inspiration.
In addition to a private family service, his life will be honored in a Celebration of Life on June 3, 2023, at The Carter House, 12 W. Second Street, Vanceburg, from 1:00-5:00 p.m.
An award fund for deserving Lewis County students in the field of science is being arranged in his memory. Donations may be made to this fund by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/joseph-h-gilbert-memorial-scholarship-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1.
