Richard L. Gilbert

Richard (""Dick"") Lynn Gilbert, 95, of Englewood, formerly of Buena Vista, passed away from this life on April 3, 2014, at the Life Care Center of Littleton. Born October 27, 1918, in Paradise, Kansas, he was the son of Dorothy Perkins and Walter T. Gilbert. He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Goldie Evelyn Gilbert, who passed away earlier this year on January 20, 2014. Dick moved to Colorado when he was two years old; he and his two sisters were raised in the Sugar City area. He graduated from Sugar City High School in 1936 and went on to attend Western State College in Gunnison, where he met his future wife, Evelyn Ethel (""Goldie"") Beauregard. Although they didn't date in college, they reconnected after graduation in the San Luis Valley where they were both teaching. After dating only a short time, they eloped to Raton, New Mexico, marrying on June 16, 1941. After World War II, the couple lived in Japan from 1946 – 1948 as part of the Occupation Forces. Upon returning to the states, they settled in Maryland, where Dick pursued his career with the Civil Service and where they raised their two daughters. After Dick retired, they moved back to Goldie's hometown of Buena Vista in 1981, where they lived for nearly 30 years. Dick was always very active in the community. He and Goldie were both active in the Buena Vista Congregational United Church of Christ; they sang in the choir and participated in several trips to Louisiana that the Church sponsored for Habitat for Humanity. He and Goldie were avid gardeners and they hosted many Church events in their beautiful backyard. Dick loved to surround the house with colorful potted petunias every summer, and their vegetable garden was second to none. As a member of a local hiking group, he hiked the fourteeners and hiked into and out of the Grand Canyon. He was active in the local Optimists Club, served briefly on the Town Council, and was instrumental in refurbishing and staffing the local medical clinic. Dick loved music; he learned to play the horn in junior high school and went on to lead a dance band in college. He sang with the local barbershop group in Buena Vista and served for a time as their director. He and Goldie enjoyed driving trips and exploring places as far away as Alaska and as close as Twin Lakes. Their annual boat trip to Lake Powell was a favorite that they loved sharing with friends. Dick and Goldie celebrated their 50th and 65th wedding anniversaries in Buena Vista with friends and family. They moved to Englewood in December, 2010, to be near their youngest daughter and her family. There they celebrated their 70th anniversary in June, 2011. Dick will be remembered for being extremely hardworking, industrious, and generous with his talents, for his love of music, and, especially, for being such a caring and loyal husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He is survived by his daughters Karen (Robert) Haydock, of Corte Madera, CA, Eugenie (""Genie"") (Frank) Coppola, of Englewood; granddaughters Kara (Jason) Schmahl, Lone Tree, CO, Kate (Billy) Leiva, of Hermosa Beach, CA, Kacey (Rossi) Morreale, of Hermosa Beach; great grandson James Joseph Schmahl, many nieces and nephews, and two great granddaughters on the way. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his sisters Mary Esther Simmons and Eula Mae Dougherty. Viewing in Denver will be on Tuesday, April 8, 4-7 PM at Horan & McConaty funeral home at 1091 S. Colorado Blvd. Funeral Service in Buena Vista will be at 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 9, at Buena Vista Congregational United Church of Christ, 217 Crossman Ave., Buena Vista. Interment will be at Mt Olivet Cemetery in Buena Vista. Memorials may be made to Buena Vista Congregational United Church of Christ, PO Box 610 Buena Vista, Colorado 81211.