John Ezra Gilbert, 80, died February 16 in Greenville, South Carolina. He was born April 27, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio. With an early aptitude for music, he attended West Alexandria public schools, participating in bands and playing piano and organ in local churches during high school, graduating at the top of his class in 1963. He then attended Ashland College (now University), Ashland, Ohio, where he majored in music and English and graduated valedictorian in 1967. In 1971 John received his Master of Sacred Music degree in organ performance from Union Theological Seminary, New York City, where he studied organ with Vernon deTar and harpsichord with Eugenia Earle.
While in New York, Gilbert was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Long Island and served as organist at the Church of the Resurrection in Queens. Following graduate school and for the next twenty years, he returned to Ashland College as a professor of organ, harpsichord, and music history and held the role of musical director for Ashland Summer Theatre and Ashland College Department of Theatre musical productions. In addition to his work at the college, Gilbert played organ and directed choirs in area Presbyterian, Congregational, and Episcopal churches.
In 1993 Gilbert left academic life to become the full-time organist and choirmaster at All Saints Parish, Waccamaw, in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. He moved to Greenville in 2008 and served in the same capacity at Christ Church. After his retirement from full-time church work, he served as part-time organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greenville since 2009. Gilbert had an anthem, several hymns, and hymntunes published by Selah Press and Gemini Press.
A Requiem Mass was held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Greenville, South Carolina, March 3. John Ezra Gilbert is survived by his children Sarah G. Murray (Doug) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Drew J. Gilbert (Kelly) of Charleston, South Carolina; three grandchildren; sister Alma G. Kemper of Englewood, Ohio; stepsister Laura Reeves of Holbrook, Massachusetts; and three nephews. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1002 South Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
