Rick & Sharon Gilbert Fund

This designated fund was created in 2026 to support youth and family programs at Epworth United Methodist Church in Marion. Rick and Sharon met at an Epworth youth fellowship event and married there in 1973.

The late Rick Gilbert (1952-2017) owned and operated Gilbert Construction in Marion and worked the majority of his career as a building contractor, doing both residential and commercial construction. Sharon was a literacy teacher. The grants from the Gilbert Fund favor programs that provide education in the construction trades or early literacy.

Very faithful, Rick was an active member at Epworth, where he was a “frequent volunteer,” sound system engineer, “chef” for Christmas Eve dinner, and a member of Epworth Tuesday Men’s Breakfast. He also was a member of the Marion Cemetery board for many years.

Rick dedicated time to Marion Harding High School, serving as the “voice” of the Marion Harding Football team (a.k.a. announcer), and was the Marion Harding High School Marching Band equipment truck driver and logistics support person for many years. He was an OHSAA Swimming and Diving Official for 23 years, officiating four state swim meets as well as volunteering to officiate swim meets at the Marion Family YMCA.