David Gilbert was born on December 26, 1916 in South Bend, Indiana in the early years of the 20th century to Sadie Cohen Gilbert and Israel Isser Gilbert. Israel sold dry goods, initially from a horse drawn covered wagon. David and his siblings grew up in a religious Jewish family and attended the neighborhood synagogue; but the kids loved listening to jazz and classical music. He attended Colfax School and Central High School. His last visit to South Bend was in 2018, about a month before his 102nd birthday. There he was interviewed by the South Bend Tribune and toured the area where he grew up. He was disappointed that the house of his childhood was no longer there, and surprised that his high school had been turned into affordable housing apartments. As a teen he worked at Gilbert's men's clothing store in downtown South Bend.

David lived in Valencia, California for 43 years. He and his wife Lucy moved there from Los Angeles when he was approaching retirement. After her passing in May of 2006 his daughter Marti Williams kept an eye on him from her home just down the street; and her son, David Williams, lived with him and cared for him along with Marti in his final years. He had the family passion for chocolate and introduced his children, nieces and nephews to chocolate pancakes, which he liked to eat accompanied by hot chocolate. In addition, he walked at least two miles a day until Covid kept him indoors, meeting people along the way. David was also known for his strength of character and kind heart.

During WWII David enlisted in the Navy. Afterwards he married war widow Lucy Rothman and they moved to Los Angeles where he spent most of his career working at Hughes Aircraft Co. The two loved to travel, and until several months before his death David savored discussion about his next trip.

David Gilbert was the oldest member of his family's long-lived generation. He outlived his older brother Marcus Gilbert (100), as well as his sister Annette Faye Ofstein (94), and his brother Robert D. Gilbert (83). When he passed away he was 24 days shy of his 105th birthday! He was laid to rest at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.

David is survived by his daughter Marti, his son Jay (Valerie); his grandchildren Irene, Dean, Megan, and David; seven great-grandchildren, and six nieces and nephews along with their children and grandchildren. He loved his life, was loved, and will be missed.
 

12/24/2021 JFC