Winslow – Richard Paul 'Dick' Gilbert, 80, passed away peacefully alongside his loving wife, Barbara, at Togus Springs VA Hospital on August 24, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. Dick was born on July 20th, 1943 in Jackman, Maine, to parents Wilbur and Grace Gilbert. Dick spent his early years in Jackman, and at the age of 13, left school (many times through a window) to join his father in the logging business, working long hours in the Jackman woods. At the age of 17, Dick enlisted in the United States Army where he trained and served as an artillery gunner. Dick was stationed in Germany during the Berlin crisis for two years. When Dick wasn't performing his military duties in Germany, he often volunteered at a local hospital where he cared for a young girl in the burn unit. Returning from the military, Dick moved back to Jackman where he worked for his father once again, operating heavy equipment while aiding in the creation of the many logging roads that exist in the Jackman area today. By day, Dick could be found working in the woods, and by night, Dick ran his own hot dog stand in town. On Saturdays, he would do garbage runs for the people in his community for $1.50 per week. After a few years, Dick moved to Connecticut with his first wife Lorraine, where they had a daughter, Robin. During his time in Connecticut, Dick operated heavy equipment for National Refractories Pipeline and J Paul Kovak Construction. Moving forward, Dick leased an Exxon service station which he operated for 10 years. In the little spare time that Dick had, he acted as the sole groundskeeper and maintenance man for the famed Garelick Estate. After spending over a decade in Connecticut, Dick moved back to Jackman where he worked for both the Scott Paper Company and his father. It was during this time that Dick found the love of his life, Barbara. She was working at a local restaurant called 'The Enchanted Trail', a restaurant where Dick often frequented. It was no secret that Dick was quite fond of Barbara and knew he was going to marry her from the moment they met. On their first date, Barbara let Dick know that she would not date a man who smoked cigarettes. Dick put out the cigarette he was smoking right there and then and never lit up another one! The year was 1976, and in 1977, Dick and Barbara were married. In 1981, Dick and Barbara moved to Winslow, Maine, where they welcomed their first child, Heather, to the world. Dick was always an ambitious and determined man. Knowing he wanted to be a cement truck driver for Cianbro, he sat in the president's office for over a half a day waiting to speak with him about the position. By the end of the day, Dick had the job! Shortly after, he tied steel for National Refractories in order to erect the massive smoke stacks that can still be seen today at the Madison Pulp Mill in Maine. In 1983, Dick and Barbara welcomed their second child, Crystal. Dick switched his profession and began working for Sears as the manager of the home improvement department, in addition to working in sales for various other home improvement companies. This change in profession led Dick to starting his very own company, Gilbert Home Improvement, which he successfully ran for over 20 years. Dick was known by many as 'The Garage Man' for years to come and was well known for his honest and ambitious business practices. He was always an amazing mentor to the young men he hired while owning and operating Gilbert Home Improvement, oftentimes offering help, advice, and guidance to those he believed in. Throughout these years, he and Barbara were also quite successful as direct distributors for the Amway Corporation, oftentimes traveling around the country as motivational speakers for various seminars. When Dick was not working, he enjoyed playing golf, going fishing, playing cards, dining out in many restaurants across Maine, watching the news and keeping a close eye on the daily weather. Barbara would often refer to Dick as her very own personal weatherman. Another of Dick's favorite things to do was spend time with his family, to include camping throughout Maine, all the way to Prince Edward Island. One summer, Dick took his family on an adventurous three month cross country journey in their motorhome where they visited 46 states – it was truly a trip to remember! As empty nesters, Dick and Barbara traveled on various cruises, to include the Western Caribbean, the Panama Canal, all the way to the Alaskan wilderness and Inner Passage, something Dick truly enjoyed! Spending time at the coast was something Dick cherished. Eating lobster while at the coast was an absolute must! In the early years when Dick and Barbara lived in Jackman, they would often take long rides to the coast together. More and more loved ones joined in on those trips. In Dick's final days, he and his family were lucky enough to experience many rides together to the coast and the White Mountains in NH. Dick was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was one of the hardest working, ambitious, loyal, and honest men, and he will be sadly missed by all who had the true pleasure of knowing him. Dick is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara (Achey) Gilbert; his daughters, Robin Robinson and husband, Rodney; Heather Schuchardt and fiance, Corey Kirkland; Crystal Wadleigh and husband, Matt; his grandchildren, whom he loved so incredibly much, Nevaeh, Owen, Cole, and Aspyn; sisters, Rita Nadeau and husband, John; Anna White and husband, Dick; Georgette Kanack; brothers, Steve Gilbert; Leon Gilbert and wife, Carleen; and sister-in-law Marilyn Trahan; his "favorite" mother-in-law, Arline Achey; his many nieces and nephews; as well as his 'breakfast' friends. Dick is predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Lawrence and Patrick. Interment will be held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mount Vernon Rd, Section B, Augusta, Maine, on September 18th at 2 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at Centerpoint Community Church, 155 West River Road, Waterville, Maine, at 3 p.m. Arrangements made by Dan and Scott's Funeral Services in Skowhegan.