NEWPORT NEWS - Donald W. Gilman Sr., 90, passed away unexpectedly at home Wednesday morning, Nov. 15, 2006, after a year-long battle with cancer. He was a native of Minneapolis, Minn., and had been a Peninsula resident since 1935. Mr. Gilman graduated from the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School, class of 1941, where he was band director for five years. He retired from Newport News Shipbuilding, Electrical Department, in 1983 after 47 years of service. He was a former member of the Norfolk Symphony orchestra, the Peninsula Symphony orchestra, the Peninsula Band, the A.F. of Musicians for a number of years, and a charter member of the Engineers Club. He was a former private music teacher for several years; a member of the Warwick Lions Club for many years where he was recipient of the Melvin Jones Award and recipient of life membership. Mr. Gilman was an active member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. His hobbies included music, reading, golf and traveling. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sophia and Wayne Gilman of Minneapolis, Minn.; a sister, Margaret Laudenslager of Leavenworth, Kan.; a brother, Charles Gilman of Newport News; and a niece of Kansas. Don is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Bernice Vest Gilman; his son, Donald Wayne Gilman Jr. of Muncie, Ind.; three nieces and several great-nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. followed by Funeral Mass by Father Ken Wood. Private burial will take place at a later date in Monticello Memorial Gardens in Charlottesville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may take the form of contributions to a favorite charity.

Published in the Daily Press from 11/16/2006 - 11/17/2006.
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