Thomas Ivan Gilbert

Thomas Ivan Gilbert, age 61, of Seaford, DE, passed away at home on July 21, 2025.  Thomas was born on April 17, 1964, in San Diego, CA, the son of the late Thomas H Gilbert and Gail L Ward.

Thomas had a love for music, he was a musician that could play many different instruments, he loved classic cars, dirt track racing, riding 4 wheelers, and he enjoyed building, buying, selling, and racing remote controlled cars. Thomas loved watching sports, he was a devoted fan of NASCAR where his favorite driver was Ross Chastain, he was an avid baseball fan of the San Diego Padres, and his favorite football team was the LA Chargers.

In his younger years, Thomas was an Eagle Scout, he worked as a Machinist by trade and did hotel and property management. Thomas had celebrated many years of sobriety for which he was very proud of, he was active in AA at both the Methodist Church in Elmira, NY, and in Seaford, DE. Thomas also assisted in helping others on their road to recovery.  Thomas was also a member of the Native American, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Thomas lived in many places across the United States, he loved to travel, but his heart was always in his birthplace of San Diego, CA, where he had hoped that one day he would be able to return there to live. Thomas loved spending time with his family, whether it was attending family dinners, birthday, camping trips, or Christmas events, he always found a way to be there.  One of his biggest hobbies was playing electronic golf every morning with his younger brother, Dave.

He is survived by two sisters, Kari Gilbert and Dorothy Gilbert, three brothers, John Ward, David A Ward (Denise), and Travis Gilbert (Janet), son, Ivan Gilbert, daughter, Alesia McGee (Scott), seven grandchildren, as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.  He loved his entire family.

Thomas is preceded in death by his father, Thomas H Gilbert, mother, Gail L. Ward, stepmother, Linda L Gilbert, grandfather, Ivan C Gilbert, and grandmother, Mary E Gilbert.

Funeral Services will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Thomas’s name to the Seaford Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) located on Middleford Rd, or donate through https://sussexaa.org/.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas Ivan Gilbert, please visit our floral store.