WILLIAM EUGENE "BILL" GILBERT

William Eugene "Bill" Gilbert of Richmond, Missouri, passed into eternity with his Lord and God on January 6, 2012.
Bill was born April 4, 1944, to William H. and Jessie (Tonnies) Gilbert in Quincy, Illinois, where he graduated from Quincy High School in 1962. He was a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla School of Mines, graduating with degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Bill was the epitome of a Renaissance man; a man of many interests and passions. In 1964, he and his college friends had formed a band-the Lyndells–and played many venues around the Midwest. Bill as the drummer, recorded several of the band's original songs and the Lyndells became the most popular band on campus as well as generating a local following. The band members have remained lifelong friends with many wonderful memories. The Lyndells' songs have become popular with the 60's and 70's collectors and can still be heard on the internet today.
In his early career, Bill worked for Illinois Power, a power company in Arizona, and as a line manager for Missouri Public Service.
One of Bill's many passions was flying and he owned his own airplane at one time. Growing up, Bill and his brother Bob raced go carts, and his passion for racing continued as Bill went on to build his own racecar from the ground up and race in the NASCAR series at I-70 and Lakeside raceways.
Bill began his career in lighting and grip services filming The Shepherd of the Hills plays. From that grew The Gilbert Group of Overland Park, KS. Starting with a van and a few lights, Bill provided lighting and grip support for the film, video, and movie industry. Bill continued to grow and expand his company. He built his own camera car and was fortunate to have traveled the country to work on movies such as Twister, Bridges of Madison County, My Best Friend's Wedding, Grumpier Old Men, Mars Attacks, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, and many other movies, commercials and television productions. He also did work for CBS, ABC, NBC, the Kansas City Chiefs, and did the lighting set up for Orange County Choppers when they did the motorcycle build for the B-2 bomber at Whiteman Air Force Base. He loved what he did; to him it was not work at all. He was an expert at lighting and lighting design, and as one close friend said "With Bill in heaven and doing the setups, you're going to be seeing the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets!"
Bill met and married Nancy Cooper. Bill knew that she was the one, and after dating for 11 years they married on December 28, 2002. Nancy has three children, and on the day of the wedding Bill passed out cigars which said "it's a boy- it's a girl- it's a boy!" He was so proud to be the surrogate father of Bret Cooper, Eric Cooper and Renée Novak and all his new grandchildren.
Bill retired from the lighting and grip services industry in 2011. His colleagues in Kansas City held a retirement party in his honor for his selfless contribution to the industry in the Kansas City area.
Bill's new love and interest became woodworking and metalworking. He was so proud of the rocking horses he built for his great-grandsons. He loved when grandson Lance spent summer vacations with him and Nancy, building the projects Lance had designed.
Bill was a teacher at heart, always educating from his vast array of knowledge. Just ask anyone who worked with him and The Gilbert Group – they were his family also. Bill demonstrated his giving heart by becoming a licensed Emergency Medical Technician and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
Bill was a member of the Richmond United Methodist Church, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas City Film Society, the IATSE Stage Hand Union Local #293, and a member of the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild.
Bill is survived by his wife Nancy, of the home, Bret and Patty Cooper, Richmond, MO, Renee' (Cooper) and Pete Novak, Lake St. Louis, MO, and Eric Cooper, Georgetown, TX. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Eric and Michelle (Pickering) Grote, Cody Cooper, Adam Cooper, Tyler Novak, Signe' Novak, and Lance Novak, and three great-grandchildren: Eli, Macalan, and Grant Grote, as well as his brother, Bob Gilbert and wife Kathy of LaGrange, KY, two nephews, Brian and Lydia Gilbert, and Bradley and Abbie Gilbert, three great-nieces and one great-nephew. Bill's second family was the McFerrin Family-Evelyn and Lee McFerrin, Sandy and Del Feeler, and Larry McFerrin.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Richmond United Methodist Church, the Heart of America Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Richmond Troop #324, or Habitat for Humanity-monetary or voluntary.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at the Richmond United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the Richmond United Methodist Church beginning at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be in Richmond Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements by Thurman Funeral Home, Richmond, MO.