Charley James Gilbert

Bishop Charley James Gilbert, Jr., 75, lifelong Seminole county resident, died Tuesday, January 12, 2016, in Seminole, Oklahoma. Charley was born October 12, 1940 in Wewoka, Oklahoma, to Charley Gilbert Sr. and Eva Lee (Sandrige) Gilbert. Charley served his country in the U.S. Army as a sergeant from 1961 to 1967. He was a certified auto body technician for Fred Jones Ford in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for many years where he had earned the top service award for two consecutive years. He was a member of the Ethiopian Reformed Coptic Church of Christ, east of Seminole in the Nobletown area, where he served as General Bishop. He was married to Claudia Ann Stephens Gilbert on November 15, 1959 in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife Claudia Ann Gilbert of Wewoka, Oklahoma; son Billy W. Stephens and his wife Adella of Wewoka, Oklahoma, his daughters, Sandra D. Doolittle and her husband Ray of Wewoka, Oklahoma, Towanda L. Phillips and her husband Robert of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Rhonda Gilbert- Stovall and her husband Derick of Chesapeake, Virginia and Kelley V. Gilbert of Wewoka, a brother Clavis Gilbert and his wife LaRue of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and a sister Lena M. Ingram of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, twelve grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings. Graveside services are planned for 1:00 P.M., Friday, January 15, 2016, at the Machpelah Cemetery (8.2 miles east of Seminole on highway # 9 and south 3 tenths of a mile) with Arch Deacon Roy  M. Stephens and Elder Claud Stephens, Jr. officiating. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: January 15, 2016, 1:00 PM Graveside Service - Machpelah Cemetery located at 8.2 miles east on Hwy 9 / then 3, Seminole, OK