Information from Findagrave. 1
Gilbert was born in Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois. He was the second child and only son born to Carrie and Elias ERB, and the younger brother of Elsie ERB (1906-1974).
He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in October 1932 with a Degree of Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance.
On May 26, 1932, while at the university he received his commission as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Officers’ Reserve Corps.
Gilbert married Dorothy J. MANHARD on 24 JUN 1939, in Rock Island, Illinois. Dorothy was the daughter of Edward M. and Grace A. (née ARMSTRONG) Manhard. Edward was an executive officer of Rock Island Bridge and Iron Works.
During World War II Gilbert was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps (later U.S. Army Air Forces).
After the war he eventually went into real estate obtaining his license on 30 April 1951.
Gilbert was reinstated to the United States Air Force in 1952 and retired ten years later as a Lieutenant Colonel.
He was a trustee and longtime member of the Broadway Presbyterian Church of Rock Island.
Gilbert spent the next twenty years in the real estate business in the Quad Cities. He worked for Manhard Realty Sales (Rock Island), the Mel Foster Company (Davenport, Iowa), and Boeye Agency (Rock Island).
Gilbert and Dorothy had four daughters:
Emily Peggy Sara Jane “Sally” Betsy