Bertha Gilbert

Bertha Gilbert

Bertha Gilbert was born on December 18, 1936 in Keokee, Virginia. Her father, James Kelly, was a hard working coal miner that later moved the family to Logan, West Virginia. Her mother, Sally, and James had 16 kids.
She is survived by her three sisters Susie Dunke, Laura White, Myrtle Wilson, one brother Willard (Evelyn) Kelly; Son, Jim (Marla) Gilbert, Billy Russel, Andrea (Aaron) Jacob, Chris Russel, Ryan Gilbert, Joey McQueen, Colton McQueen; great grandchildren, Kaityn, Cheyanne, Hayden, Benjamin, Pyper, Paislee.
Bertha and William were married on December 10, 1954 in Middlesboro, KY. They met when Bertha was 18 and William 21. William used to try to walk her home, but Bertha wouldn't allow it because he didn't ask for permission yet. They started dating I the spring of 1954, when Bertha was supposed to be going on a blind date with another man. Instead, William showed up and sat down next to her and they were together ever since. William was in the army, as a tank operator. They moved to Fort Hood, Texas at first, then to Cincinnati, Finally settling in Dayton, KY where they raised their three kids.
Bertha loved spending time with her kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was so devoted to taking care of them for they were her world. She also enjoyed cooking and was the best cook! Her signature plates, all made from scratch, were pork chops, fried chicken, French fries, coleslaw, and biscuits. The kids would then wrestle with dad (William) on the floor as a ritual.
Bertha was a very proud woman, always looked her best. Even after 62 years of married, William never saw her without her hair done or teeth out; even fighting with the nurses in the hospital on her last days to keep them in. No one could even make a "surprise" visit to see her because she wanted to be made up. She enjoyed listening to storms and her gospel music.
No matter the illness or how much pain she was in, Bertha never showed it. She first hurt herself at work, Hutch Sporting Goods, when she fell and hurt her back which put her on disability. She was later diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis which led to two hip replacements. She was diagnosed with melanoma in 2013. She had three spots removed within the first two years. Bertha recently became anemic and was undergoing several tests to see why. On Friday, March 18, Bertha fell out of bed and hit her head. She was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, KY where they discovered she had a stroke. She was taken to UC Hospital where doctors found two brain tumors (one of which caused the stroke) and three more on her chest. After being moved to Hospice, Bertha passed away on March 31.
Bertha lived a long, fulfilling life enjoying the time with her grandkids and great grandkids. If this were William telling her story, her modesty would show, she would roll her eyes and say "now Bill" in that West Virginia twang, she would claim he is exaggerating and try to move the conversation on to something else. Bertha loved angels and now is one herself. She will be forever loved and missed dearly.

"Just because you can't see your angels, doesn't mean they aren't there."