Early Life and Education
Carl Norman Gilbert, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and servant of God, passed peacefully at home on November 19th at the age of 86. He was the son of Warren and Margaret Gilbert, born on October 19, 1939. Carl grew up in Coral Gables, FL with his parents and brother, Clyde Gilbert. He attended Emory University, where he was among the few students admitted to Emory Medical School at the end of his junior year. After medical school, including serving as Chief Resident of Pediatrics at Grady Memorial Hospital, Carl enlisted in the Army in 1967 and was immediately sent to Vietnam.

Military Service
From 1967 to 1968, Carl served at the 36th Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam before volunteering as a Battalion Surgeon with the "Bobcats," 1st Battalion Mechanized, 5th Infantry. His bravery and dedication were recognized with several honors:
• Silver Star
• Bronze Star with "V" device for valor in combat and oak leaf cluster
• Purple Heart
• Presidential Unit Citation (awarded to his unit)
Carl and Mary Ann cherished the annual "Bobcat" reunions, which they attended since 2006. At his first reunion, Carl was surprised to be recognized immediately by his fellow veterans. With his back to the room he heard, "Hey, that's Doc", a testament to the lasting impact he made. These reunions became a highlight of each year.

Medical Career and Family
After returning from Vietnam, Carl spent a year as a professor at Emory University and as a physician at Southeast Comprehensive Health Care in Grant Park. In 1970, he joined the Pediatric Clinic of Dalton, Georgia.
In 1971, Carl married the love of his life, Mary Ann Donnan of Whitmire, South Carolina. They met while Carl was the volunteer youth coordinator at St. James United Methodist Church and Mary Ann was the part-time youth director. They married on June 26, 1971, and lived in Dalton until 1989.
During their years in Dalton, Carl and Mary Ann welcomed two sons, Greg and Brady, into their family. Carl found immense pride and happiness in watching his children grow, a joy that deepened as Greg and Brady established their own families.
Greg married Linda Thielman, and together they have two daughters: Samantha (15) and Ashley (12). Brady is the father of Noah (15) and Sophie (13). He married Jaime Holbert, who brought her son, Coleman Holbert (20) into their family. Carl's devotion to his sons extended naturally to his grandchildren, and each milestone and addition to the family brought him even greater fulfillment and pride.

Later Years and Community Service
In 1989, the family moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, where Carl continued his pediatric practice until retiring in November 2002. Mary Ann began working at Alpharetta Methodist Church in 1990, which became the family's spiritual home and a source of strength for their faith and service.
Carl's lifelong goal was to serve others. He participated in numerous mission trips with Alpharetta Methodist to Honduras, Mexico, Kentucky, and the Gulf Coast—wherever there was need. He also served as a Sheep Feeder and team leader for Wednesday Night Suppers, helping to serve food to about 325 people. Carl assisted the church wherever he could, from counting money for the finance office to serving on the Staff Parish Relations Committee.
In Dalton, Carl helped establish a Group Home for troubled teens. After retirement, he served foster children for 18 years as chairperson of the board for GCAC (Giving Children a Chance), a foster care and adoption agency.

In Lieu of Flowers
Please consider a donation to one of the following organizations in Carl's memory:
• Alpharetta Methodist Church's Missions program ( https://amchurch.onlinegiving.org/donate/guest_donate – select "MISSIONS" from the drop-down menu)
• Dream Weavers of Georgia, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to enriching the lives of children in foster care ( https://www.dreamweaversofgeorgia.org/copy-of-donate )

Celebration of Life Service
A service to celebrate Carl Gilbert's life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Alpharetta Methodist Church, 69 N Main Street, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. Visitation and luncheon will follow at the church. All are invited to gather in worship and in remembrance and support of the Gilbert family.

Graveside Service and Military Honors
The graveside service, which will include military honors, will take place December 30, 2025 promptly at 1:30 PM at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA.