Gilbert, James Junior

James J. (Jim) Gilbert, 73, of Christiansburg, died Sunday, December 30, 2012, at Heritage Hall Health Care Center. He was born in McAlester, Okla. on September 30, 1939. He is preceded in death by his father, Taulbee E. Gilbert; two brothers, Billy Lewis Gilbert and Ernest Gilbert; one sister, Mary Ellen Miller; one sister-in-law, Alma Gilbert; one brother-in-law, Gary Main; two nephews, Johnny Songer and Bobby Lee Gilbert. Jimmy served his country proudly in the United States Air Force for eight years during the Vietnam era. He also worked for Corning Glass Works for twenty years and retired from ITT with seven years of service. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Sharon E. Gilbert, of Christiansburg; mother, Eva Stella Gilbert, of Vinton; son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Crystal Gilbert, of Christiansburg; sisters, Peggy Songer, of Vinton, Patricia Main, of Roanoke; brothers and sister-in-law, Bobby and Barbara Gilbert, of Elliston, Roger Gilbert, Christiansburg; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at 1 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jim Bayne and the Rev. Otto Conley officiating. Interment will follow in the Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Christiansburg. Friends may call anytime after noon Tuesday, and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Michael Payne and Dr. Stuart Gardner for their care, and also the nursing staff at Heritage Hall during Mr. Gilbert’s illness. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.