Obituary for William Gilbert
To join the service via Zoom, please click here at the time of service
OR
enter this ID and Passcode into your zoom application:
Meeting ID: 826 7740 3228
Passcode: Gilbert
William Gilbert was born on July 3, 1938, to Agnes Marie in Pittsburgh, PA. He was her pride and joy, a gorgeous and peaceful baby. "Bill" or "Billy", as he was affectionately called as a child (later "Billy G", "G", and "Gman" by Leslie), started his young life on his grandfather's farm in Aliquippa, PA, with his mother and sister Beatrice “Bee Bee”. Later, moving back to Pittsburgh, he grew up in the projects on the Hill where he met his lifelong friend Arthur “Art” Carter. Bill and his buddies got into all kinds of mischief (ex. lighting firecrackers in the hallway and running, playing Lash LaRue, and lighting a bonfire under the sliding board until the metal started to bend and the firemen extinguished the fire as they watched from afar).
Agnes met and married Arthur “Skag” Jeffries and they all moved into an apartment together. Bill and Skag developed an extremely close relationship, and he raised Bill as his own. One day while fishing, Skag caught a baby mallard duck on his line and brought it home. Where most would have a dog or cat, they had a duck and named him Petey.
At an early age, he learned how to build things by helping his grandfather Dockey with many projects. They raised Dockey’s house up, building a basement underneath on the foundation.
Bill studied and graduated from Fifth Avenue High School. Soon after, he enlisted in the Marines only because Art and some other friends had done so days before. In basic training, he went to the mess hall where he saw his boys sitting at a table and decided to sit with them. They never looked up from their trays or even spoke. He soon found out the hard way that enlisting was not gonna be a social experience. He served our country honorably until 1959.
SEMPER FI
After returning home to Pittsburgh, he met and married the late Iris Jean Taylor. They had a son, Robert Kenneth, who died shortly after birth. Iris was offered a job in Washington, DC, so they relocated to the Nation's Capital. He learned a trade in sheet metal and installing duct work where he worked various jobs. After two unfortunate miscarriages, on May 27, 1964, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Leslie Maria. They bought their first house and it soon became a hub for many gatherings. He was a huge entertainer and loved to cook. Bill and Iris remained good friends even after the marriage ended. He was later blessed with another beautiful daughter, Nikola Lenora Ruby, on February 27, 1973. He often opened his home to many friends and family who came to start their lives in the DMV area.
Bill worked at the Pentagon in the Sheet Metal Mechanic shop for 29 years where he did carpentry, roofing, painting, electronics, and plumbing. He was a dedicated employee and received numerous awards during his career until he retired in 1997.
Sylvester, Carter (deceased), and John Johnson were just like brothers to Bill, as well as Charles Lester who he spoke to, laughed, and joked with daily. He had a lot of really great friends and joined a social club called “The Nine of Us”. They did a lot of traveling. Bill loved to dance and boy did they party! However, no one did it better than him, having epic gatherings at his home. When you rode down the street and saw cars parked on both sides you knew he was at it again. His cousins, Lois “Granny” and Beverly, would often travel from Detroit to enjoy the celebrations. He gave the most amazing masquerade parties even making his own costumes like the Tin Man, Mr. Planters Peanut, and the Alka-Seltzer man.
Bill loved boating and joined the oldest African American Yacht club, the “Seafarers”, where he spent a great deal of time on his boat “Miss Stuff” (one of three boats). He served as Fleet Captain for many years. He loved to ride his motorcycle also. One day, he was almost run off the rode on his way to his cousin Beverly’s house. When he arrived, he tossed his keys to her son and gave the bike to him. Later, he obtained his dream bike, a Harley Davidson Trike. Bill was a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, transforming his office into a Steelers room, painting the walls like the team's jersey, and covering every inch with Steelers memorabilia. He was given a replica set of all six Super Bowl rings that he proudly displayed on a shelf. He also displayed his car collectables in his recreation room.
Bill was the guy you called if you needed ANYTHING done, being a jack of all trades. He could change your bathroom toilet, hang a light fixture, work on your car, cook for an entire barbecue, renovate a whole house, and smoke your turkey and ham for Thanksgiving. You name it, he could do it. He could make and repair canvases on boats and started his own boat canvas business, “Tip Top Canvas”.
In his later years, he experienced many diagnosed illnesses causing Leslie to pack up and spend months at a time to be with him. Most recently, she spent over a year-and-a-half being his full-time caregiver. He was so appreciative for the sacrifice and let her know daily. Through those challenges, Leslie led him to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and give his life to Christ.
On January 20th, Bill transitioned peacefully home to be with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his mother, Agnes Jeffries; father, William Riggins; stepfather, Arthur Jeffries; sisters, Beatrice Herring and Sondra “Bonnie” Tolintino; niece, Lisa Herring; brother-in-law, Airey “Buddy” Moore; and the family dogs, Brandi and Ali.
Bill leaves to cherish his memory his daughters, Leslie and Nikola; bonus children, Sherry, Troy, Vanesha, and Katima; grandson, Marek; bonus grandchildren, Nydia, Dondre, and Maya; sisters, Jean, Shirley (William), Janice “Peach”, and Kimberly; brother, William “Bruda”; goddaughters, Tanya (Edward) and Shawn (Ron); and his nephew-son, Gilbert Herring whom he taught many of his trades. He also leaves the fur babies, Lyric “Scooter Head”, Diamond “Barnyard Princess”, Cliff “BoyBoy”, and Lola who loved their Pop Pop; and a host of other relatives and friends.
OR
enter this ID and Passcode into your zoom application:
Meeting ID: 826 7740 3228
Passcode: Gilbert
William Gilbert was born on July 3, 1938, to Agnes Marie in Pittsburgh, PA. He was her pride and joy, a gorgeous and peaceful baby. "Bill" or "Billy", as he was affectionately called as a child (later "Billy G", "G", and "Gman" by Leslie), started his young life on his grandfather's farm in Aliquippa, PA, with his mother and sister Beatrice “Bee Bee”. Later, moving back to Pittsburgh, he grew up in the projects on the Hill where he met his lifelong friend Arthur “Art” Carter. Bill and his buddies got into all kinds of mischief (ex. lighting firecrackers in the hallway and running, playing Lash LaRue, and lighting a bonfire under the sliding board until the metal started to bend and the firemen extinguished the fire as they watched from afar).
Agnes met and married Arthur “Skag” Jeffries and they all moved into an apartment together. Bill and Skag developed an extremely close relationship, and he raised Bill as his own. One day while fishing, Skag caught a baby mallard duck on his line and brought it home. Where most would have a dog or cat, they had a duck and named him Petey.
At an early age, he learned how to build things by helping his grandfather Dockey with many projects. They raised Dockey’s house up, building a basement underneath on the foundation.
Bill studied and graduated from Fifth Avenue High School. Soon after, he enlisted in the Marines only because Art and some other friends had done so days before. In basic training, he went to the mess hall where he saw his boys sitting at a table and decided to sit with them. They never looked up from their trays or even spoke. He soon found out the hard way that enlisting was not gonna be a social experience. He served our country honorably until 1959.
SEMPER FI
After returning home to Pittsburgh, he met and married the late Iris Jean Taylor. They had a son, Robert Kenneth, who died shortly after birth. Iris was offered a job in Washington, DC, so they relocated to the Nation's Capital. He learned a trade in sheet metal and installing duct work where he worked various jobs. After two unfortunate miscarriages, on May 27, 1964, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Leslie Maria. They bought their first house and it soon became a hub for many gatherings. He was a huge entertainer and loved to cook. Bill and Iris remained good friends even after the marriage ended. He was later blessed with another beautiful daughter, Nikola Lenora Ruby, on February 27, 1973. He often opened his home to many friends and family who came to start their lives in the DMV area.
Bill worked at the Pentagon in the Sheet Metal Mechanic shop for 29 years where he did carpentry, roofing, painting, electronics, and plumbing. He was a dedicated employee and received numerous awards during his career until he retired in 1997.
Sylvester, Carter (deceased), and John Johnson were just like brothers to Bill, as well as Charles Lester who he spoke to, laughed, and joked with daily. He had a lot of really great friends and joined a social club called “The Nine of Us”. They did a lot of traveling. Bill loved to dance and boy did they party! However, no one did it better than him, having epic gatherings at his home. When you rode down the street and saw cars parked on both sides you knew he was at it again. His cousins, Lois “Granny” and Beverly, would often travel from Detroit to enjoy the celebrations. He gave the most amazing masquerade parties even making his own costumes like the Tin Man, Mr. Planters Peanut, and the Alka-Seltzer man.
Bill loved boating and joined the oldest African American Yacht club, the “Seafarers”, where he spent a great deal of time on his boat “Miss Stuff” (one of three boats). He served as Fleet Captain for many years. He loved to ride his motorcycle also. One day, he was almost run off the rode on his way to his cousin Beverly’s house. When he arrived, he tossed his keys to her son and gave the bike to him. Later, he obtained his dream bike, a Harley Davidson Trike. Bill was a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, transforming his office into a Steelers room, painting the walls like the team's jersey, and covering every inch with Steelers memorabilia. He was given a replica set of all six Super Bowl rings that he proudly displayed on a shelf. He also displayed his car collectables in his recreation room.
Bill was the guy you called if you needed ANYTHING done, being a jack of all trades. He could change your bathroom toilet, hang a light fixture, work on your car, cook for an entire barbecue, renovate a whole house, and smoke your turkey and ham for Thanksgiving. You name it, he could do it. He could make and repair canvases on boats and started his own boat canvas business, “Tip Top Canvas”.
In his later years, he experienced many diagnosed illnesses causing Leslie to pack up and spend months at a time to be with him. Most recently, she spent over a year-and-a-half being his full-time caregiver. He was so appreciative for the sacrifice and let her know daily. Through those challenges, Leslie led him to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and give his life to Christ.
On January 20th, Bill transitioned peacefully home to be with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his mother, Agnes Jeffries; father, William Riggins; stepfather, Arthur Jeffries; sisters, Beatrice Herring and Sondra “Bonnie” Tolintino; niece, Lisa Herring; brother-in-law, Airey “Buddy” Moore; and the family dogs, Brandi and Ali.
Bill leaves to cherish his memory his daughters, Leslie and Nikola; bonus children, Sherry, Troy, Vanesha, and Katima; grandson, Marek; bonus grandchildren, Nydia, Dondre, and Maya; sisters, Jean, Shirley (William), Janice “Peach”, and Kimberly; brother, William “Bruda”; goddaughters, Tanya (Edward) and Shawn (Ron); and his nephew-son, Gilbert Herring whom he taught many of his trades. He also leaves the fur babies, Lyric “Scooter Head”, Diamond “Barnyard Princess”, Cliff “BoyBoy”, and Lola who loved their Pop Pop; and a host of other relatives and friends.