Ellen Carter Pidgeon Gilbert

Ellen Carter Pidgeon Gilbert, 87, of Wilmington, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on May 2, 2026 at her home.

She was born June 1, 1938 in Wilmington, OH, daughter of the late George C. Pidgeon and Ruth Denny Pidgeon.

Ellen graduated from her beloved Kingman High School in 1956 & attended Wittenburg College & transferred & graduated from with a music degree from Wilmington College in 1960. She began teaching music at South Lebanon Elementary School. She met Kash D. Gilbert & after dating they married on August 25, 1962. Ellen then started teaching vocal music at Kings High School. She retired her teaching career when she & Kash had their son, Jonathan Carter Gilbert.

As a gifted musician she sang & played at multiple weddings & funerals for well over 60 years. She was the pianist at 2 different churches. Ellen even played at Chester Friends Church the Sunday before she died! She enjoyed singing with The Clintonaires & The Lebanon Community Chorus. She was an active member in many groups. The Jonah's Run Missionary group, Clinton-Massie PTA, Church Women United, the Democratic Party, election ballot judge & active member of Chester Friends Church. And she loved attending & driving people to The Ohio State Fair for most of her adult life.

In addition to her parents, Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Kash Day Gilbert, several sisters & brothers-in-law & cousins.

She is survived by her son, Jonathan Carter Gilbert of Wilmington, sister, Rachel L. Pidgeon of Denver, Colorado,brother, Stephen D. (Sandy) Pidgeon of Wilmington, sister, Margaret P. Raabe of Cincinnati, niece, Tracey (Jason) Meyers of Wilmington, nephew, Doug Pidgeon of Wilmington, niece, Juna (Chris) Garber of Zanesville, niece, Jennifer (Chris) Reis of Alexandria, KY, nephew, Matthew Raabe of Cold Springs, KY, 7 great nieces & nephews, Logan, Carson, Maddie, Ty, Kaitlyn, Pax & Natalie.

Funeral Services will be held at Chester Friends Meeting, 3453 Gurneyville Road Wilmington, OH 45177, Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 12:00 pm with Pastors Mike & Nancy McCormick officiating. Interment will follow in the Miami-Corwin Cemetery, near Waynesville, Ohio.

Friends will be received at Chester Friends Meeting Saturday, May 9, 2026 10:00 am until the time of service at 12:00 noon..

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ellen's memory may be made to the Chester Friends Church. The Fisher-Edgington Funeral Home, Wilmington is serving the family. To sign the online guest book, go to edgingtonfuneralhomes.com.