Grant E. Gilbert

I had the opportunity to share memories about Jan and Mom at their memorial services. Since that will not be the case with Dad, I thought I would post my memories here instead.

Some of my earliest memories are of Dad sitting with Jan and I in the evening watching TV. He had a rocking chair he sat in and we would both sit on his lap and laugh at the comedy shows, which were Dad’s favorite.

As we grew older, Dad gave me a great out from housework because I was always the first to volunteer when Dad needed a help with the car or other outside work. It was much more fun working on the car, or chopping down trees than cleaning house.

As we got involved with school concerts, I was assured of Dad’s love because as much as he hated crowds, he would be front and center in the audience with his reel-to-reel tape recorder and camera to capture our concerts on tape and film.

I especially enjoyed photography with Dad. We used to get up early on Saturday morning and go take pictures. We started with black and white photographs because Dad had a darkroom and Jan and I would stand for hours watching Dad, and later developing our own film and photographs. Later, we also developed our own color slides.

We also took several summer camping trips either to Mt. Rainier or the ocean. Some of the favorite trips were with cousins from North Bonneville. Dad loved boating and our two families got together in the summer to go to the San Juan Islands or down to North Bonneville or the ocean. Dad, Mom, and I even took a sailing class through South Seattle Community college later on when Dad had his Catalina sailboat.

I remember riding on the running board of Dad’s scooter when he got home from work when I was really young. Our whole family used to take part in bicycle Sunday where they closed the road from San Sayers pit to Seward Park and the road along Lake Washington was reserved for bicycles. Carol and I also used to get up early on Saturday morning and go bike riding with Dad. Once we were grown, Mom, Dad, and I took several motorcycle trips together, including one around Mt. Rainier and another down to Shelton to visit Mom’s cousin Dorothy.

I am very glad Dad came to know the Lord prior to his home-going. From the time he was young, he had believed in God – he told me about a time his life was spared through nothing he could have done himself. He was playing with a chemistry set in the basement of his parent’s home and mixed something that caused a small explosion and chemical fire. The only thing he could think of to do was throw a cup of water that he was holding on it. He knew it would do no good, and yet the fire went out. He said from that time on, he knew someone had intervened and saved him from serious injury.

In his 60’s Dad came to understand that the only way he could be reconciled to God was through accepting Christ’s death on the cross as payment for his sinfulness.

At this point, I miss Dad, and Mom, and Jan, but I am very grateful for Carol, her family, and Mom’s relatives who are still here. I do look forward to the day when our family will be reunited in the presence of Christ.

Our love and prayers are with you Sue and Carol and family. We are told in the Bible that heaven is Paradise — even better than anything we can imagine. So, I’m imagining that Uncle Grant and Jan each have their own Nascars and are having the time of their lives racing each other, whlie Aunt Rose is ready with the victory picnic! … Uncle Grant was always a quiet one at our large multi-family gatherings. But one day he told me some about his childhood and it was so good to hear. He blessed us all with wonderful family photos that are such precious momentos. Almost every special photo I have of my parents and childhood were thanks to him. I will always remember him fondly and look forward to seeing him and all our loved ones again someday in heaven. — love, Debbie