Richard Hugh -Dick- Gilbert

Dick Gilbert, 87, formerly of Carmel, passed away on August 25, 2017, at Hoosier Village, Indianapolis. Born October 25, 1929, in Evanston, Illinois, he was the son of the late Harold Robert Gilbert and Marjorie Beach Gilbert.

Dick spent the early years of his life in Wheaton, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1951. He served in the Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953 as a Second Lieutenant.

In 1955, he married his childhood friend, Elizabeth “Eva” Evans. In February 2017, they celebrated 62 years of marriage.

From his youth, Dick was interested in agriculture and crops. During his college years he found his niche in agronomy and soils testing, which became the basis of his career of thirty years as a soil scientist with the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In retirement, Dick enjoyed working with Habitat for Humanity and serving his community through Sertoma. He served on the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church, Asheville, North Carolina, and St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Carmel, where he also served on the Building Committee during construction of the sanctuary completed in 2009.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert Beach Gilbert, and his son John Robert Gilbert.

Dick is survived by his wife, Eva; son Richard Hugh Jr. (Anne) of Indianapolis; daughter Jane Dunnivant (Bryan) of Carmel, and daughter-in-law Jane Fricke Combs of Baltimore, Maryland. He also is survived by grandsons Jeffrey Gilbert of Owensboro, Kentucky; Patrick Gilbert (Kristin) of Ocean City, Maryland; Brian Gilbert of New York City, and Eric Dunnivant (Katie) of Madison, Wisconsin; and granddaughters Kathleen Gilbert of Indianapolis; Laura Gilbert of New York City; and Lisa Dunnivant of Carmel. Other survivors include his sister Jane G. McDougal (Charles) of Raleigh, North Carolina, and his brother William Gilbert (Kathy) of Louisville, Colorado.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Dick’s life at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1402 West Main Street, Carmel, at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2. The family will receive visitors preceding the service from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Following the service a reception will be held in the church’s parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1402 West Main Street, Carmel, IN 46032 or stchriscarmel.org/give-online.
Flanner and Buchanan, Carmel, has been entrusted with arrangements.