Irene Gilbert

Irene Gilbert 87 of Mineral Wells passed away June 20, 2011. Born in Hardin, Montana March 18, 1924, to Henry and Anna Marker Heagle, Irene knew well the life of a rancher's wife in Big Horn County and knew too, it was not for her. After graduating high school Irene received training as a teletype operator and went to work for Western Union in San Francisco, Ca. When President Roosevelt signed the bill on 1 July 1943 that created the Women's Army Corps (WAC), Irene, a fierce patriot and determined to join the war effort, quit her job with Western Union and worked in a fruit cocktail cannery until she could enlist. Irene enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in 1944. When the Army and Air Force split she was assigned to the Army Air Corps where she was a chief clerk with airways communication systems assigned to the 66th A.C.S. Group, and worked within the headquarters personnel section, at Westover Field, Chicopee, Mass. It was here she met and married R.C. Gilbert, a "Texan" from Santo, Texas. Following her marriage to R.C., Irene was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1946. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, R.C. Gilbert of Mineral Wells, sons Robert and Richard Gilbert, grandchildren Thomas and Catherine Gilbert, and great grandchildren Jacob and Joseph Gilbert. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters. The family will receive friends Friday February 24 from 5-7 PM at Baum Carlock Baumgardner funeral home. Service is Saturday June 25, 2011 at 10 AM in the Baum Carlock Bumgardner Chapel with burial following at Dobbs Valley Cemetery. Military honors provided by U.S. Army, Ft. Hood, TX.The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.