Wager Olin Gilbert, Jr.

Wager Olin Gilbert, Jr., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma died March 6, 2024. Olin was born in Oklahoma City on April 27, 1939, at Mercy Hospital to Wager and Wynona Gilbert. He was a farm boy who grew up in Buffalo, Oklahoma, spending most of his time riding horses, driving tractors, and generally making mischief. After high school, Olin attended Oklahoma State University, graduating in 1961. He then volunteered for service in the United States Air Force and was a member of the Air Force Reserves during the Vietnam War. In 1965, Olin met the love of his life, Kathryn, and together they raised their two boys Dudley Gilbert and Norman Collins in Idabel, Oklahoma. Olin spent the better part of his adult life working for the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, helping countless families through hard times. He retired in 1996 and enjoyed a long and happy retirement.

Before his grandchildren were born, Olin had a gift for spoiling his furry family members. You could often find him on his back porch with Maggie, Pepper, Millie, Mandy, or Mallory - making sure each of them were fat, happy, and well cared for. When he wasn’t spoiling his pets, he may have been reading a novel. His library was extensive and was second only to his own grasp of history and his memory of significant events (both worldwide or family) during his lifetime. If you asked “PaPa” when a certain family or world event happened, he could easily give you the date, and likely the time of day it happened. We sometimes wondered if he was just making it up, but in his later years we were able to confirm his accuracy and he became Nana’s personal “Google machine.”

Olin loved the Oklahoma State Cowboys and would watch them on television while also listening to the radio broadcast. But as a lifelong Cowboy who suffered through some agonizing games, he might declare a loss during the first five minutes of a game if the other team scored too soon.

In 2006, Olin and Kathryn moved to Oklahoma City to be near their kids and grandkids. If a grandchild was playing soccer, baseball, basketball, or football or was in a gymnastics or dance recital, PaPa was there until his health no longer allowed it.

Olin was preceded in death by his father Wager Olin Gilbert, Sr., mother Wynona Gilbert, and sister Jacqueline Gilbert. He is survived by wife Kathryn Gilbert, son Dudley Gilbert and wife Stefanie and grandchildren Eli and Eden, son Norman Collins and wife Nancy and grandsons Kelly and James. The family would also like to recognize the nurses and caregivers at Accentra Home Health & Hospice and HarborChase of South Oklahoma City assisted living facility for the dedicated care and support provided to Olin over the last several months. Their love and kindness will not be forgotten.

Olin and Kathryn were faithful members of Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. A memorial service for Olin will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church (8005 Dorset Drive) on Wednesday, March 13th at 10:30am.