Lyle Ellis Gilbert

Lyle Ellis Gilbert, 83, of North Webster, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend, died on August 25, 2009 at Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester. He was born in Elkhart, Indiana on July 28, 1926 to Jacob Ellis and Anna Belle ( Rawlings) Gilbert. He served in the Army Air Force from 1944 to 1946 in the European Theater of Operations with the 8th Air Force. He graduated from Tri State College, Angola in 1951, and retired from MIC, a division of GM, in 1982. In 1948 he married Evelyn Beckman who preceded him in death. In 1974 he married Carole Parks, she survives. He was a member of the North Webster United Methodist Church and the North Webster American Legion Post 253.

Other survivors include sons David (Diana) Gilbert of Munster, Indiana and Tom (Suzanne) Gilbert of Madison, Wisconsin; and daughters Susan (Ron) Hobbs of Canton, Georgia; Carol (Jeff) MacKinney of Peachtree City, Georgia; Lynda (Robert) DeField of Marathon, Florida; Cheryl Killingsworth of Schererville, Indiana; Debra (Robert) Divich of Lighthouse Point, Florida; and Donna (Robert) Klacik of Highland, Indiana. 15 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother Harold Gilbert and a sister Helen Arisman.

A Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, August 29, 2009, 11:30 AM at the North Webster United Methodist Church with visitation starting at 11:00 AM.

Military honors will be conducted by members of the North Webster American Legion.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the VA Hospital in Fort Wayne

or Kosciusko County Animal Shelter

Mishler-Eastlund Funeral Home, Harris Chapel, Syracuse is in charge of arrangements.