Extracted from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, TX)
Thursday, July 26, 2001

Robert J. Gilmer, Jr.

MERKEL -- Robert J. Gilmer, Jr., 82, died Tuesday, July 24, 2001, at his home. Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Starbuck Funeral Home Chapel with John Hawthorne officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home.

Mr. Gilmer was born Oct. 1, 1918 in Lockhart. He married Mabel Evers Dec. 13, 1941 in Bossier City, LA. He was an Air Force veteran of WWII and Korea, serving for 38 years, and retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant. He moved to Merkel in 1955. Following his retirement from the Air Force, he worked for Mundens Discount Store and Big Star Auto Auction.

Survivors include his wife, Mabel Evers Gilmer of Merkel; five sons, Robert J. “Bobby” Gilmer III of Lockhart, Mansel O. Gilmer of Merkel, Frank T. Gilmer of Burleson, William L. Gilmer of San Antonio and John Hawthorne of Shreveport, LA.; a daughter, Barbara Jo Herbold of Corpus Christi; 23 grandchildren; and 20 great- grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Wayne E. Gilmer.