Charles F. “Chuck” Gilbert, 85, of Centerville, Ohio, died October 30, 2023. The retired U.S. Air Force major was a former resident of Fairborn, Ohio. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday, November 6, at Mary, Help of Christians Church in Fairborn, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11 a.m. The committal ceremony at Dayton National Cemetery will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 7.
Chuck was born in Rosholt, Wisconsin, on September 13, 1938, to Charles A. and Loraine E. Gilbert. He attended Rosholt area schools, graduating from Rosholt High School in 1955. After attending Central State College (now the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point) for two years, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1959 with a bachelor of business degree in marketing. In 1971, he earned a master of business administration degree in management from the University of Utah–European Division.
In December 1959, Chuck joined the U.S. Air Force as a member of the second class (Class 60-B) of the then-new Officers Training School. After being commissioned a second lieutenant in March 1960, he completed the Basic Supply Officer course at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas, in July 1960. His first duty assignment was at L.G. Hanscom Field, Massachusetts. Succeeding tours took him to Izmir Air Station and Cigli Air Base, Turkey; Vandenberg AFB, California; Johnston Atoll in the Pacific; Lindsey Air Station, Germany; Tan Son Nhut AB (AF Advisory Group), Republic of Vietnam; Nellis AFB, Nevada; U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Air Station, Thailand; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Chuck completed Squadron Officer School in 1964 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1972. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal; the Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; the USAF Marksmanship Medal; the Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal First Class; the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and the Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal.
Chuck retired from active duty at Wright-Patterson AFB in August 1980 after 21 years of military service. After retirement, he worked as a functional logistics analyst. He was employed by Contel Information Systems (formerly International Computing Co.) from 1981 to 1986; Systems and Applied Sciences Corp. (later Atlantic Research Corp./Computer Sciences Corp.) from 1986 to 1993; and Frontier Engineering Inc. from 1993 to 1994. He served as business manager for Mary, Help of Christians Church from 1994 to 1997 and was employed by GlobeTech Exchange Inc. as a subcontractor to Computer Sciences Corp. from 1997 to 2003. He retired again in February 2003.
Surviving are three daughters and two sons-in-law: Margaret E. Hastings, Pendleton, Indiana; Elizabeth M. and Brian Kohler, Columbus, Ohio; and Joanne M. and David Moore, Cincinnati, Ohio; and a granddaughter, Samantha K. Tilmans, and her husband, Alex Jung, Indianapolis, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 56½ years, the former Annette J. Laska of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, whom he married in 1960; and an infant son, Charles J., in 1975. A brother and sister-in-law, Ralph C. and Carol L. Gilbert, Las Animas, Colorado. Seven nieces and a nephew and their families also survive.
Chuck was a charter member of the Association of MBA Executives and the National Association of Sports Officials. From 1976 through 1996, he officiated soccer, softball, basketball and baseball, at various times belonging to the Amateur Softball Association; the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials; the United States Soccer Federation; and the Ohio High School Athletic Association. In the Dayton, Ohio, area, he was, at various times, a member of Greene County Officials Association; Southwestern Ohio Officials Association; Greater Dayton Soccer Officials Association/Dayton Area Soccer Officials Association–Ohio South; and Fairborn Officials Association/All Sports Officials Association. He served the latter two associations as first vice president, president and trustee for more than ten years.
In 1971, Chuck and Ann started Volksmarching in Germany and continued to participate when the sport came to the Dayton area in 1978. He has walked more than 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) during these events. He also walked the Air Force Half Marathon in Dayton seven times during the early 2000s.
Chuck was a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, joining Fairborn Council #3724 in 1980. He edited and published their monthly newsletter for six years beginning in 1983. From 1977 to 2008, he chaired the Finance Committee for the Mary, Help of Christians annual festival. After his second retirement, he kept busy as a volunteer, doing maintenance work at Mary, Help of Christians (2003-2014); preparing taxes at the Wright-Patterson AFB Tax Center (2005 2021) and at the Beavercreek Senior Center (2022-2023); handing out race packets at the US Air Force Marathon Expo (2003-2015 and 2017-2019); and working with the Handy Helpers at Mary, Help of Christians. From 2006 through 2015, he and Ann volunteered as ushers with the Victoria Theatre Association, which he continued from 2017 through 2020.
As can be seen by Chuck’s four unaccompanied Air Force assignments, Ann has waited—and waited—many times over the years for Chuck to join her somewhere. She no longer has to wait for him. Chuck will be buried with Ann at the Dayton National Cemetery at the Dayton Veterans Administration Center. Now they are finally back together forever.
If desired, please consider donating to a charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.
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