ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Robert L. Gilpin, 85, of St. Joseph, Mich., passed away August 3, 2011 at The Willows Assisted Living in St. Joseph. His wife, Mary Louise Gilpin, passed away May 1, 2008.
Bob was born August 22, 1925 in Lawrenceville, Ill., the son of Elmer J. and Alta Mae (Jordan) Gilpin. He graduated from Bushton High School in 1943.  He served his country in the U.S. Army 23rd Armored Division during World War II, stationed in Germany and Austria. 
On October 6, 1946, he married Mary Louise Carpenter in Claflin. Bob worked more than 50 years in the oil business in Kansas, Oklahoma and California.  He was a 60-year member of Grand Lodge AF & AM of Kansas; Claflin Lodge No. 424; Order of The Eastern Star No. 428, Holyrood; Midian Shriners, Wichita; and Scottish Rite of Free Masonry Valley Lodge, Wichita. Bob enjoyed golfing, fishing, bowling, playing cards and dominos. 
Bob is survived by a daughter, Bobbe Lou (Gilpin) Gersonde and husband Karl, St. Joseph, Mich.; a son, Bruce L. Gilpin and wife Diana, Mount Juliet, Tenn.; three grandchildren, Jennifer Gilpin, Stephanie Hillcher and Michelle Worthington and husband George; a great-granddaughter, Elyse Worthington; three sisters, Edna Frey and husband Frank, Checotah, Okla.; Doris Glantz, Oklahoma City; Ruth Stratman, Santa Maria, Calif.; a brother Jack Gilpin and wife Bernice, Weinert, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. 
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Jay Gilpin and Carl Gilpin, and by a sister-in-law, Lorraine Hammer.
A Celebration of Life Memorial service for Bob and Mary Lou is scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, Mich. with Linda Beushausen, Hospice at Home, officiating. 
Memorials are suggested to Hospice at Home, the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan or the American Cancer Society. 
Those wishing to sign Bob and Mary Lou’s Memory Book online, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home *
2650 Niles Road
St. Joseph, MI, 49085
269-556-9450
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 5, 2011