Herman Spencer Gilbert

Herman Spencer Gilbert won his crown of victory February 11, 2014 after his 30 year struggle with Parkinson's Disease. The services will be held at the Wilkins and Downing Church of Christ in Angleton on Monday, February 17, 2014 beginning with the visitation at 10:00 a.m., the funeral following at 11:00 a.m. and the burial at Angleton Cemetery immediately following the service with Nathan Burrow and Leland Rodgers officiating. Spencer was born January 25, 1934 to Herman Philip and Reba Ezell Gilbert in Limestone County Athens, AL. As a child he was taught to work hard and would share memories of picking cotton with his siblings. He loved and lived for our Lord and Savior. He studied his Bible daily and memorized scripture from a young age which he carried in his heart through his entire life. He attended Athens Bible School where his favorite class was Bible taught by Brother Rollins. He was a well educated man who loved to learn. He attended Christian colleges, Freed Hardeman and David Lipscomb, where he earned a BA in Chemistry in 1955. He continued his post graduate work at the University of Alabama and Texas A&M University. He moved to Texas in 1957 and began his career at Dow Chemical. He met the love of his life, Mary Louise Graham, in 1959 after a blind date arranged by a mutual friend. They were married on April 2, 1960. They were blessed with two sons - who are both in heaven, and two daughters. He purchased land in 1965 in Sweeny where he spent his free time and Saturday's. His girls, including his wife, would be his helpers in this endeavor. Saturdays were filled with building various projects, working cattle, picking up sticks, camping, hunting, church gatherings, and family gatherings. God blessed him with the land and he would use it to bless others. He retired from Dow Chemical in 1985 as a research chemist with many patents. In 1986, he bought property in Alabama where he enjoyed working the land with his family there. The scriptures meant everything to him. He wrote many Bible studies over the years and his girls remember looking up scriptures as a daily activity. He was a servant of the Lord all of his life. He served the church in Angleton as a deacon for 40 years. He worked with the youth, benevolence, visitation, prison ministry, and worship. He loved his family and church family. He lived his adult life in Angleton. In 2009, with failing health he moved to Sweeny to be close to family. Then in September of 2013, moved to Waco, TX where he was blessed to be surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren the remainder of his days. Mary Louise was with him every step of the way and was by his side when he left this earth. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Louise Gilbert; Daughters: Michelle Wharton and husband Eric of Waco, TX; Heather White-Burrow and husband Nathan of Waco, TX; Grandchildren: Aaron Wharton, David White and wife, Kari, Bethany Wharton, Allison White, Micah and Caleb Burrow, and Rachel Wharton; Brothers: Wade Gilbert and wife Wanda, Phil Gilbert and wife Susan; Sister: Sandra Wright and husband Charles; brother in law, Jim Costello, Aunt: Corinne Dawes, Uncle: Macon Gilbert, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Jean Costello, two sons Brent Spencer and Keith Forest, and son in law James B. White. Honorary Pall Bearers are J.C. Brockman, Virgil Davis, Eugene Filipp, David Johnson, Farmer Krejci, Harold Liddell, and Joe Travis. Pall Bearers are Aaron Wharton, David White, D. D. Lindsey, Curtis Sanford, Stan Murray, Richard Thompson, Gary Faycosh, and Lowell Holderness. Special thanks to IPH Home Health and Hospice for their many years of help and support; Mena and Renee you were true blessings; Bluebonnet Hospice, Waco, TX; Jake-thank you for making dad's last days comfortable; Church family in Angleton, Sweeny, Needville, and New Road. Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Herman Spencer Gilbert, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. Visitation Monday, February 17th, 2014 10:00am - 11:00amService Information Monday, February 17th, 2014 11:00amInterment Location Angleton Cemetery 328 Cemetery Rd. Angleton, TX 77515