Eleanor E. Gilbert

Eleanor E. Gilbert, 95, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Heritage Pointe of Fort Wayne. Born April 24, 1923, in Erie Pa., she was a daughter of the late Albert and Hazel (Peck) Epp. Eleanor (Ellie), graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Flora Stone Mather, a women’s division of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. She met her late husband, John Barrows Gilbert, as a freshman on a blind date and he in his first job, following graduation from Carleton College, MN, in business. They were engaged three years later in San Francisco, as he was now a Naval Supply Corp Officer, leaving for duty in the South Pacific. Marrying two years later, she and John (Jack) lived naval life in Miami and Key West, FL, Norfolk, VA and Honolulu, Hawaii. Following naval duty, as civilians, she and Jack settled in the Cleveland, OH area and there they raised their family, beginning with “Corky”, a wire hair fox terrier. She was fulfilled by being a loving, devoted wife and mother, being an engaged and active church member, and developing treasured friendships in her life. She enjoyed playing piano and was involved with the local music and drama club; dancing, needlepoint, golf and played in various bridge clubs, including duplicate bridge, throughout her life. She and Jack enjoyed traveling the US, researching his SAR ancestry and spent much time with friends over the years in Longboat Key, FL, where they had a condominium. Following her husband’s death in 1990, she later resided in Madison, OH, Longboat Key and Sun City Center, FL, with her late companion of fourteen years, William J. Wehr, Jr. before moving to Ft. Wayne, to be closer to family. She is survived by her daughter, Vicki (Jeff) Peters of Angola, IN; son, Craig (Cheryl) Gilbert of Cleveland, OH; seven grandchildren, Courtney (Matthew) Miller of Goshen, IN, Caitlin (CJ) Smith of Colorado Springs, CO, Stacie Gilbert of Hollister, CA, Devin Gilbert, of CO, Shannon Gilbert of Colorado Springs, CO, Michelle Gilbert of Ashtabula, OH, and Alanna Gilbert of Cleveland, OH and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Epp Shade; brother-in-law, Ralph Shade. A Celebration of Life service will be 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Heritage Pointe of Ft. Wayne, 5250 Heritage Pkwy., Ft. Wayne, with visitation one hour prior. Pastor Christina Murray officiating. Inurnment at a later date at Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Action Against Addiction, 5209 Euclid Ave., Cleveland OH 44103; Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 or a Humane Society Shelter of your choice.