FARMINGTON – LeRoy F. Gilbank, 83, of Farmington, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2014, at the Franklin Memorial Hospital.
He was born March 6, 1931 in Beloit WI, a son of, Thomas Charles and Florence Hannah (Webb) Gilbank. He attended local schools, graduating from Beloit Memorial H.S.
He married Gloria Blair on Apr 8, 1951 and they had 3 children. He later married Joy Smith Knight on May 27th, 1979.
LeRoy worked for Beloit Corporation for 46 years, starting as a draftsman and progressing to the position of Mechanical Project Engineer.
LeRoy was instrumental in the installation and startup of many of the paper machines currently running throughout the U.S. and Mexico.
He enjoyed golfing, bowling and boating. LeRoy was a member of Old South Congregational Church Farmington Maine. He was a past president of Porter Lake Fish and Game Association.
He is survived by his three children, Kathleen Korback and her husband, Gene of Beloit, WI, Karen Hogan and her husband, Shawn of Beloit, WI, and Ken Gilbank of Ruskin FL; a brother, Jim Gilbank and his wife, Nell of Clinton, WI; stephildren Karl Knight and his wife, Kathy of Dixfield ME and Dorothy Unkles and her husband, Ted of Bradford, VT; two granddaughters, Jennifer Cook and Stephanie Day; seven step-grandchildren, Benjamin and Kelsey Unkles, Kevin, Holly, Thomas, Hannah and Rachel Knight; four great grandchildren, Jazmine, Devan, Dylan and Carter.
He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Loraine; a daughter-in-law, Karen Gilbank; his wife Joy Gilbank.
Words of condolence and tribute may be shared with LeRoy’s family and friends on his tribute wall at www.wilesrc.com.
Funeral services will be held, 2PM, Sat., Apr. 12, 2014 at the Wiles Funeral Home, Cremation & Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington with Rev. Richard Wadell, officiating. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Saturday from 12:30PM until the time of the service at 2PM. Interment will be later in the spring at the New Vineyard Cemetery.
Skip and Dottie
LeRoy and Joy were good for each other, sitting together in church, eating out weekly, floating around the lake evenings. Now both are gone. We will miss them too, dear friends.
May our good and gracious God sustain you and comfort
You with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life.
Sherry & Liz
I remember the comment my mother (Joy’s and mine) made to me after Joy had introduced her to LeRoy,”I like him!,” really emphasizing the “like.” LeRoy was so good for Joy and together they had a really good life. I am so glad he was there for my sister as long as she lived and now I am confident will be with her again.
Fred O. Smith II
To loved ones,
Leroy will fondly be remembered as a long time friend.
His contributions as a past president, board member and friend of the PLA, Porter Lake Association will be remembered with gratitude and appreciation. He was generous with his time, energy and commitment to the mission of preserving Porter Lake for future generations.
We will miss seeing him with Joy, ” enjoying” yet another evening cruising around the lake.
Fondly,
Lucia and Peter Swallow
Terry and I are sorry for the loss Leroy’s and Joy’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will experience. Leroy was a loving man, and we remember how happy he and Joy made each other. May the love the family shares comfort them all in this loss.
“My Tribute To A Friend”
I initially met LeRoy in the winter of 1967-68 while I was working for International Paper at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine. We were in the midst of a start-up of a new 300 inch Beloit coated paper machine. LeRoy was one of the on site engineers for Beloit.
This was my first experience in starting up a paper machine – supercalender operation, and at 26 years of age, it proved very memorable for me. My eagerness to learn more about all of this new equipiment was not discounted by LeRoy. And now, 46 years later, the impact of the experience still remains. His patience and willingness to share critical information during the vital start-up phase of the equipment proved priceless to me, and subsequently, to others. LeRoy was not only a skilled engineer, but a knowledgeable instructor as well.
What I learned from LeRoy enabled me, in following years, to apply those lessons through 3 more start-ups. I’m more than grateful that the relationship established with LeRoy stood the test of time for over 46 years. Subsequent to his retirement and my own, I saw LeRoy from time to time at one of our favorite local restaurants here in Farmington. LeRoy Gilbank was not only a credit to his profession, he was a skilled teacher and gifted mentor. Above all, to me he will remain a first class friend and gentleman.
Don DeMarsh
Farmington, Maine