Lois Gilbert (89) of Altamont

Lois Gilbert, 89, of Altamont died at 5:46 pm Monday, March 27, 2023 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont, with Jason Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Arborcrest Memorial Park, Funkhouser. A visitation will begin two hours prior to service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Charles M. Wright House, Gilbert Park Improvement Fund, or donor’s choice.

Lois Fay Gilbert was born on August 3, 1933 in rural Effingham County to Presley and Blanche (Johnson) Hankins. She married Floyd "Ray" Gilbert on November 26, 1953 at Funkhouser Methodist Church. He preceded her in death in 1983. Lois graduated from Altamont Community High School in 1951 and then served as school secretary until resigning in 1955 to start a family. In 1966, her and her husband became part-owners in the Aloha Inn Motel in Altamont. In 1968, they opened the very popular Dutch Pantry Family Restaurant which later became Gilbert's Family Restaurant. For many years, Lois enjoyed tooling around town in her turquoise 1959 Cadillac. She had an infectious laugh, a great sense of humor, and a generosity of spirit.

She is survived by her sons, Brian Gilbert of Altamont and Forest (Susan) Gilbert of Lusby, MD; grandson, Alexander Gilbert (fiancée Chelsea Miller) of St. Louis, MO; granddaughter Lauren (Morgan) Gray and great- granddaughter Lucy Gray of Brevard, NC; daughter-in-law, Sheila Maloney of White Heath, IL; and sister-in-law Gennell Hankins of Minooka, IL.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Mark Gilbert; parents; brothers, Leroy, Kenneth, Gene, and her twin, Lewis Hankins.

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