Virginia L. Gilbert

Virginia Lou Gilbert, age 79, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on October 26, 2023.

She was a fourth generation Floridian born in Orlando, Florida January 15, 1944, to Oscar John and Gwendolyn Elizabeth (Bass) Scoggins and sister Dorothy Janet.

She grew up in Downtown Orlando on Raleigh Street, in a little house her father built. Attended Grand Avenue Elementary School and spent most days after school at her family’s market, Scoggins Fish and Poultry Market. She was a favorite student around the holidays as she would always gift her teacher with a big fat hen. She was blessed to have her aunts and cousins living close by.

In the 9^th grade, the market was sold, and the family moved to East Orlando where she attended Cherokee Junior High School. They soon became members at Temple Baptist Church, and Virginia accepted Christ that year. One Sunday night at church, hearing a Missionary speak, she felt the call to the mission field.

After graduating from Colonial High School in 1962, she boarded a train bound for Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. It was the first time away from her family and she was nervous, but she trusted in the Lord and his plan for her life. She enjoyed college and had many friends. In her junior year she came down with pneumonia and had to return home to recover. Needing to pay medical expenses, she took a job at the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) where she worked for several years.

She met her husband Terry Gilbert in 1966 and they were married in February 1967 in Vienna, GA. After his discharge from the service, they made their home in Orlando, Florida and their first daughter Barbara was born in 1968. Soon after Kelly arrived in 1969.

She returned to work in 1970, taking a job at Disney during their construction as the recordkeeper to the stone masons working under Robert “Bud” Washo. She kept records on the rebar and other materials being used on projects like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Haunted Mansion and Cinderella’s Castle.

In September 1971, Angela was born, and the family moved to Gainesville, Florida where her husband attended and graduated from the University of Florida and later Auburn University. Upon returning to Gainesville, she worked as a secretary for the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine. In 1975 the family relocated to Vero Beach, Florida.

It was in 1977 she began attending King’s Baptist Church after an invite from Stella Young. Viriginia and Stella became Best Friends and Prayer Warriors for years to follow. Stella and Viriginia loved teaching Children’s Church together and working on many local mission projects together.

Looking for work in 1978, Virginia applied at two places, the Indian River County Utilities Department and a little place called the Town of Indian River Shores. She was offered both positions and decided to step out on Faith, accepting the job as Deputy Town Clerk in October.

Soon after, she was appointed Town Clerk and Treasurer, a position she held for 16 years. She was a dedicated employee and enjoyed her 24 years of service to the town, retiring as Town Manager in 2002.

Virginia loved the Town and its residents, who were very good to her and her family throughout the years. The residents knew of her love of missions and were always eager to get behind and support with funds and encouragement on many projects from dental supplies for the Mobile Dental Clinic and Hurricane Andrew Relief efforts, where she and several members from the Safety Department purchased, delivered, and passed out supplies to the Hurricane destroyed areas. They supported her again when she went with teams to India and South Africa. It was after those trips she worked to plan and promote trips with her church family at King’s Baptist.

For many years she led groups to work in Juarez, Mexico and at the Crow Agency, Montana, holding Vacation Bible School for the children, Bible Study groups for the adults, building maintenance and medical mission teams. Whatever the need, Viriginia was there to help and to help others spread the love of our Lord and Savior.

She was mission minded in every way, always working hard to promote missions and doing her part to get others involved. She was truly blessed to have her church family at King’s Baptist where she worshiped alongside lifelong friends whom we know she will be reunited with one day.

All the while she was helping others, she was a completely devoted Mother to her daughters, her “three beautiful girls” as she would say.

She was an exceptional Grandmother to Adam and loved him very much and adored her adopted daughter Chris, whom she loved as her own.

She also loved her Florida Gators and never missed a game. It didn’t matter to her who they were playing, if it was televised or if she had to listen to it on an AM station, she was going to cheer on her Florida Gators! She was known for her beautiful prayers at family functions and would always end them with a loud Amen and GO Gators!!

She is preceded in death by her parents Oscar John and Gwendolyn Elizabeth Scoggins, her sister Dorothy Scoggins (Outlaw), Brother-in-Law, Tommy Outlaw and Nephew Russell Outlaw.

Her memory will live on through her surviving family members, Barbara Gilbert, Kelly Gilbert, Angela Gilbert, Adam Gilbert, Chris Groover, Teresa Outlaw (John Olters), David Outlaw (Patricia), Ryan Outlaw (Anthony), Michael Clanton, Leslie Mintrone (Chase), Amanda Clanton, Maxwell Mintrone, Emory  Mintrone, Ransome Falotico.

The funeral service will be held at King’s Baptist Church on Saturday, November 4^th, 2023. The visitation will be from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, with the memorial service immediately following at 2:00 pm. A private interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando, Florida.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.