Gilbert William Birkelbach of Georgetown, Texas passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2014. Gilbert was born in Georgetown, Texas, the second of William and Marie Braun Birkelbach's six children. He married Doreen Edith Greatorex, of Reading, England, on June 22, 1947 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Walburg. Gilbert had met Doreen while serving in England in the U.S. 8th Army Air Corp during World War II. Trained as a Special "Y" Voice Interceptor Gilbert completed 28 combat missions in the B-17 Flying Fortress with the 351st Bombardment Group over Europe. For this service, Gilbert earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, Campaign Medal with six stars, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Unit Badge, and a Good Conduct Medal. After the war, Gilbert farmed while learning the construction trade and eventually became a contractor, building many homes in the Georgetown area. A life-long member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, the church and his religion were very important to him. Gilbert always enjoyed gardening, cultivating pecan and fruit trees and building furniture and wooden toys. He also liked painting and writing poetry, and enjoyed reading westerns and listening to country-western music.

Gilbert was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Doreen, his parents, his sisters Alma Lindquist, Viola Harvill, Irene Sheridan, Mary Ruth Birkelbach and brother Melvin. Gilbert leaves to cherish his memory; children, June Olness and her husband Tom, Sally Jacobs and husband Brian, and Alan Birkelbach and his wife Laura; grandchildren, Erik Olness and his wife Alicia, Kevin Olness and wife Kristy, Heather Woodward and husband Martin, Paul McArthur and Jessica Leigh, Jessica Lefere and husband Alidor; great grandchildren, Adeline, Alidor Jr., Ava, Cullen, Ida, Jana, Josie, Liam and Nicholas. Gilbert also cherished other close family members and many longtime friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 25th at 1pm at the St. Peter Lutheran church in Walburg. A service will follow at the St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery on Hwy 972 east of Walburg.Serving as pallbearers will be: Joseph Dooley, Alidor Lefere, Paul McArthur, Erik Olness, Kevin Olness, and Martin Woodward.In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Peter Camping Program for Youth, to be directed to St. Peter Lutheran Church, 2929 FM 972, Georgetown, Texas 78626.Special thanks are extended to the staff of Park Place Care Center and to Girling Hospice.