Rodney E. Gilbert

Rodney Eugene Gilbert was born on January 20, 1960 in Detroit, Michigan to Wallace Sr. and Ethel Gilbert. Rodney was the third born of a total of five children. Rodney was a lifelong resident of Detroit, attended Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Mumford High School in 1978. Rodney and childhood sweetheart, Wanda Martin, welcomed their only child, Rodney Steven Gilbert, in 1985.

Rodney gave his life to Christ when he was a young man at God’s Way Church of God in Christ. Rodney had a very jovial spirit. He was class clown in school and the family prankster, always cracking jokes and bursting with laughter. Rodney’s favorite things to do other than working was watching sports, (especially football – Go Lions!), grilling, singing, going to the casinos in downtown Detroit and of course, spending time with his son, Rodney (Roddy).

Rodney got his first job as a paperboy when he was 12 years old and even as a child was always determined to make his own money. He spent most of his adult life working in the automotive industry. First with General Motors, Pontiac Division, and later began employment with the Chrysler Corporation in 1994, where he went on to work for the next 27 years, achieving the position of Line Manager. Rodney was a dedicated and dependable member of the corporation working every day possible. He rarely took a day off. He was always anxious to go back to work after changeover or other forced breaks; never opting to take voluntary vacations.

Rodney Eugene Gilbert was preceded in death by his brother, Steven (Stevie), his parents, Wallace and Ethel, and his grandmother, Esther Holt. He leaves to cherish his memories his son, Rodney; brother Wallace Jr.; two sisters, Michelle and Kelli (Maurice); nephews Bernard, Wallace III, Maurice, Timothy and Ryan; nieces, Reshockie (Kian), Courtney and Autumn; uncle, Eugene; aunt Barbara; cousins Saundra, Myron Jr., Traci, and Dawn; great nephews, Bernard Jr., Justus and Blair Jr.; great niece, Jordan; and his “play daughter”, Cynetta; as well as a host of other relatives, friends and coworkers.