Robert L. Gilpin, 85, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at The Willows Assisted Living in St. Joseph. His wife, Mary Louise Gilpin, passed away May 1, 2008
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Bob and Mary Lou will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Linda Beushausen, Hospice at Home officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home, the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan or the American Cancer Society. Those wishing to sign Bob & Mary Lou’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Bob was born August 22, 1925 in Lawrenceville, Illinois to Elmer J. & Alta Mae (Jordan) Gilpin. He graduated from Bushton High School in Bushton, Kansas in 1943. He served his country in the US Army 23rd Armored Division during WWII, stationed in Germany & Austria. On October 6, 1946, he married the former Mary Louise Carpenter in Claflin, Kansas. Bob worked over fifty years in the oil business in Kansas, Oklahoma and California. He was a 60 year member of Grand Lodge AF & AM of Kansas, Claflin Lodge #424, Order of The Eastern Star #428 Holyrood, Kansas, Midian Shriners of Wichita, Kansas, & Scottish Rite of Free Masonry Valley of Wichita Lodge. In his free time, Bob enjoyed golfing, fishing, bowling, and playing cards & dominos.
Bob is survived by his daughter Bobbe Lou Gilpin (Karl Gersonde) of St. Joseph; his son Bruce L. (Diana) Gilpin of Mount Juliet, TN; three grandchildren-Jennifer Gilpin, Stephanie Hillcher, & Michelle (George) Worthington; one great-granddaughter Elyse Worthington; three sisters Edna (Frank) Frey of Checotah, OK, Doris Glantz of Oklahoma City, OK, Ruth Stratman of Santa Maria, CA; his brother Jack (Bernice) Gilpin of Weinert, TX, and numerous nieces & nephews. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers-Jay & Carl Gilpin, and by a sister-in-law Lorraine Hammer.