Another fine Southern gentleman has joined the church triumphant. Bartow Bochette Gilbert, Jr. (Bartow, Bart, Blue, or BB), of Columbia, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2024 after a brief illness. Born July 5, 1947 in Vienna, Austria while his father severed in US Army after WWII, he was the son of the late Bartow B. Gilbert and Dorothy Norwood Gilbert of Florence, SC. A graduate of McClenaghan High School, he was an Eagle Scout, recipient of the God and Country Award, and attended Boys State. He received an appointment to West Point, however, he attended the Citadel graduating in the Class of 1968 with a degree in Mathematics. He was on active duty with the US Army for 3 years, 2 months and 27 days. He served his country as a Captain in Vietnam. Bartow earned an MBA from the University of SC and began his banking career with August Kohn, First National Bank of SC, Security Federal, and continued serving in the financial community as founder of MidSouth Capital. He also was Executive VP of Service Corporation.
Bartow served as a Deacon and Elder at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. He attended the Monday morning men’s breakfast for many years, volunteered at the Eastminster CLC, and was a frequent devotional writer. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was well known as a Shady Lane gardener, was a Master Gardener, and was so thankful for his young neighbor “share croppers,” who helped grow and maintain his garden. He was a former member of the Palmetto Club, The Citadel Brigadier Club, and current member of Forest Lake Club, the Pawleys Island Gourmet Society (PIGS) and SLO(Santee Lunch Organization).
Bartow loved God, his Country, his Alma Mater and was proud of all servicemen.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Goddard Gilbert, his daughters, Elizabeth G. Liliensteins (Erik) of Charlotte, NC, and Frances (Fran) G. Lacy (Ward) of Birmingham, AL. He loved and adored his precious granddaughters, Caroline Frances Lacy and Mary Florence Lacy.
Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family and will announce further plans.
Memorials may be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 4700 Trenholm Rd, Columbia, SC 29204, the B.B. Gilbert Scholarship c/o TheCitadel Brigadier Club, 69 Hagood Ave. Charleston, SC 29403, or a charity of one’s choice.
“Morning God, Gilbert here, thanks for receiving me!”