Kelly D. Gilbert

Kelly David Gilbert, 83, went home to be with the Lord on June 25, 2024 after a heroic, three year battle with pancreatic cancer. Kelly was born on March 21, 1941 and was raised by his step dad and mother, Ralph and Lucy Thomas who preceded him in death as well as by his wife, Lyn, and older brother, Bob. 

Kelly is survived by his two children, Paul and Carla, and their spouses, Susan and Tim; six grandchildren, Grace (& spouse Brandon), Maggie, Jack, Virginia, Alex, and Liam; his younger brother Zonnie Gilbert; his brother-in-law Ron Mitchell; and his sister-in-law, Sara Mitchell Deberry. 

Kelly was a member and ruling elder at Rock Creek Fellowship on Lookout Mountain, GA, where he faithfully served for over a quarter of a century. Having graduated from Red Bank High School in 1959, Kelly married Lyn Mitchell, the love of his life, in 1967. He went on to start his own appliance repair business that he faithfully worked in for over 40 years, endearing himself to countless friends, acquaintances, and customers for his hard work, humble spirit, and enduring integrity. 

These were the same qualities that made Kelly everyone’s “favorite person” wherever they encountered him – on the job, at church, with his family and friends, on the golf links, and of course in Neyland Stadium, home to his beloved Tennessee Vols. As a young father, Kelly fostered a literal “backyard community” that all of the neighborhood kids wanted to be a part of, playing countless games of wiffle ball, catch, and two-hand touch football. 

“Papa”, as he was endearingly known to his grandchildren, was “up” for anything fun and always willing to go along with anything his grandchildren suggested! This included: trips to Europe & Israel; going to Disney World; beach vacations; birthday parties; school plays; graduation ceremonies, trips to the yogurt shop; UT football games, and walks in the woods. His contribution to every family/friend gathering was his famous hand-cranked, homemade ice cream. 

The most endearing quality of Kelly’s, however, was his personal faith in Jesus Christ. He was the kindest, most humble man any of us have ever known, willing to lay down his life as a servant to do anything to help and to serve others. His loss to us is grievous, yet hopeful, as we know He is with his Lord and Savior, at home and eternally at rest. We long to see him again at the Lord’s Coming, which is the sure and certain foundation of our hope. 

 Visitation is at the Moore Funeral Home in Trenton, GA on Sunday, June 30, from 3:00-6:00 PM. A funeral service to celebrate Kelly’s life in Christ is Monday, July 1, 4:00 PM at Rock Creek Fellowship (2008 Durham Rd. Rising Fawn GA) on Lookout Mountain. For those unable to attend the funeral service in person, a livestream of the service can be accessed at: https://www.rockcreekfellowship.org/livestream. Graveside committal to follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery.