William (Bill) Earl Gilbert

William Earl (Bill) Gilbert, 82, of Whitney, Texas, passed away April 16, 2024, in Clifton, Texas. Funeral services will take place at 2:00 pm, Friday, April 19, 2024, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro, with Bruce Martin officiating. A burial will follow at Peoria Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Thursday, April 18, 2024, Marshall & Marshall in Hillsboro.

Bill was born April 13, 1942, to Earl Gilbert and Marie (Smith) Beckstead in Flint, Texas, near Tyler. He attended high school at South Oak Cliff High School and after graduation, attended Arlington State College for two semesters. Bill served in the United States Army Reserves for six years and was united in marriage to Joyce Nelda (Blocker) Gilbert on December 10, 1966. Together, they had one son.

He enjoyed a thirty plus years career in sales as a top salesman with Briggs Weaver Industrial Supply until his retirement. Bill delighted in teaching Jeff, his only son, to hunt and fish, spending time with his grandsons, Cody and Ryan, going fishing, family gatherings, dominos, and helping anyone who crossed his path with a need. He also loved to rock babies, old western reruns, and taking his guns down to the tank at the Blocker farm, where he had quickly decided after joining the Blocker family that he would spend every special occasion there, because children were allowed to run in and out of the house without anyone yelling at them. He was a longtime member of the Elks Club.

During a Blocker family reunion, Bill went out for a walk and was joined by four-year-old Josh. After Bill and Josh had been gone for a lengthy time, someone drove out to see where they were and found Bill and Josh. Bill said, “I’ve never been so glad to see someone in my life” because Josh kept insisting that Walmart was “just over the next hill.” On another occasion, Bill had taken his guns to the tank and pulled a pistol out of a pouch he was carrying, and the pistol discharged to his astonishment, and he quickly told his nephew, Randy, “Oh gosh! That shouldn’t have happened. Let’s not tell anyone.”

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Earl Gilbert and Marie (Smith) Beckstead and his stepfather, Ernest Beckstead. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Nelda (Blocker) Gilbert; his son, Jeff Gilbert; his grandsons, Cody Gilbert and Ryan Gilbert; and his sister, Brenda Rallonza and her husband Johnny.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Peoria Cemetery Association, PO Box 443, Hillsboro, Texas 76645.