John P Gilbert

John Paul Gilbert, 87, of Croydon, PA, went home to be with the Lord peacefully on March 4th, 2017, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Langhorne, PA, surrounded by his loving children and grandchildren. John was born on January 15th, 1930, in Flourtown, PA, to George William Gilbert and Cecilia (Murphy) Gilbert. He was preceded in death by his wife Grace Gilbert, his sister Elsie Reither and her husband John, brother-in-law James Kurtz, brother-in-law Carmen Angellilli and his wife Catherine, sister-in-law Marie Vitola and her husband Samuel, brother-in-law Anthony Angellilli, sister-in-law Margaret Monte, and sister-in-law Marilyn Angellilli. John is survived by his children John, George, Joseph, Mary Ann, Grace, Regina, Kathleen, and Theresa; his daughter-in-law Karen Gilbert; son-in-laws John Fabiny, David Finan, Mark Briganti, and David Hardy; 25 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; sister Regina Kurtz; sister-in-law Roberta Angellilli; brother-in-law Ralph Angellilli; sister-in-law Veronica Ragan. Born in Flourtown, PA, John was a life long resident of Pennsylvania with over 68 years in Bucks County. John's early education began at the Christian Schools in Flourtown and Germantown, PA, and later at Bucks County Technical School and the University of Pennsylvania. John's father George passed away in 1945 when John was only 15 years old. Life for John, his mother, and two sisters was trying but not impossible. After moving to Bucks County in 1948, John met his "Bride To Be" and love of his life Grace Angellilli of Bristol and married her in 1950. They built their life and new home together in Croydon, spending the next 64 years in marriage raising their eight children and enjoying grandchildren and great grandchildren as they celebrated life with family and friends in that very home. John was a man who loved his family and friends and worked at providing a secure life for his wife, children, and mother at various businesses for over 69 years. He started at Patterson Parchment Paper in the Bristol Plant in 1948 as a young tool and die maker for 5 years. He moved on to Kaiser Metal Products Inc./Kaiser Fleet-Wing as a Maintenance Man also in Bristol. John then moved to a new company and position at the Penn-Walt Chemicals Plant outside of Philadelphia in Cornwells Heights as a Maintenance Supervisor for the next 10 years. In 1966 John was offered a position as a Production Manager at the France Compressor Products Facility in Philadelphia, PA. In the early 1970's he became the VP of Manufacturing at the New Compressor Valve Plant in Newtown, PA. John enjoyed a very extensive and rewarding career with them for over 20 years and made several trips to Europe via the French built "Concord" Supersonic Aircraft as the company expanded its operations in France, England, and Germany. In 1986 John left France Compressor Products and took on new responsibilities at Armolloy Industrial in Croydon through 1994 when he retired at age 65. John's passions as a young man were motorcycles, automobiles, and building things with his God given skills and talents. He loved to restore and build them back to original condition and had many beautiful projects during his life. His first motorcycle was a 1946 Indian Chief that he acquired as an 18 year old that he toured all over the East Coast and Canada with. Other special bikes were his Triumph and BSA road bikes that were also part of his youth. John also loved the Indy Car and Stock Car Races as well as a fan of his beloved Philadelphia Eagles throughout his long life. As John and Grace started having children, the dream of building his own home caught fire, and John sold his prized Indian Motorcycle to get the down payment to begin construction on their new home. The project started in 1957, and the beautiful home in Croydon that he built with God's help along with all of his brother-in-laws is where John and Grace both lived for the rest of their lives. His wife Grace was his greatest encourager, admirer, and supporter in the decisions they made together throughout their lives. John's eight children have been blessed to call him "Dad" and are so thankful for the life he gave them and the many heart-prints he left forever in their lives. His grandchildren and great grandchildren are his loving legacy who will remember his guidance, leadership, encouragement, and unyielding love for the rest of their lives. John's membership at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Croydon has been his and his family's house of worship for all these years. We will celebrate his life with a Funeral Mass this week. John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the medical staff at St. Mary's Medical Center in Langhorne, PA, as well as the Chandler Hall Hospice caretakers during his final days with us. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Celebration of Life at Galzerano Funeral Home (430 Radcliffe Street) on Friday, March 10th, from 6:00-8:00 PM and Saturday, March 11th, from 8:00-9:00 AM. Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 11th, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Interment will follow at Our Lady Of Grace Cemetery in Langhorne, PA. Memorial contributions in John's name may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Church (601 Bristol Pike). To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John P Gilbert, please visit our flower store.