John N. Gilbert Jr. ’58

John died Aug. 24, 2024, in Statesville, N.C. He was 87.

He came to Princeton from McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he was active in swimming, tennis, and soccer. At Princeton, John was a member of Cottage Club, served on the Student Christian Association Council and the steering committee of the Keycept program, and was a Chapel deacon. He majored in civil engineering.

After graduation, John was commissioned second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, Va., and then the 92nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Bragg, N.C.

In 1959, he returned home to Statesville to work at Gilbert Engineering Co., the firm founded by his father in 1926. In 1961, he married Harriet Erwin Sloop, with whom he would enjoy 63 years of marriage. He became president of Gilbert Engineering in 1966, following the death of his father.

In 1966, John became a member of the board of trustees of Davis Hospital, a board he chaired in 1975. For 12 years, he was a director of The Pines retirement community in Davidson.

John is survived by his wife, Harriet; his daughter Louise and his son John III; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

The class extends its deepest sympathy to them all.