Mr. James Birch Gilgo, age 85, a resident of Washington, departed this life Friday, March 4, 2011 at his home.

Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2011 at Oakdale Cemetery and will be conducted by Derik Davis and Mike Huppmann. Laverne Mayo, Cecil Leggett, Kip Gilgo, Johnnie Rose, Phil Howard and Brian Edwards will serve as pallbearers. Jim Noonan and Lawrence Watson will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Mr. Gilgo was the son of the late James Monroe Gilgo and Lucy Marie Oglesby Gilgo. He was born and raised in Carteret County, later moving to Washington where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1945 he married Margaret J. Taylor who preceded him in death in 2004.

Mr. Gilgo spent many years as the first mate on the tugboat Dauntless, traveling up and down the Eastern Seaboard. He took great pride in telling his stories especially his story about docking the Queen Mary into New York Harbor. Later Mr. Gilgo joined the Washington Police Department where he retired as chief of police after thirty years of service. He was an avid fisherman, who loved boating with his family and in the later years he enjoyed NASCAR and feeding his backyard birds and squirrels. He never left home without his canine companion Nick.

He is survived by three by three daughters, Joy Brewer and husband Wayne of Greensboro, Sharyn Schmitt and husband Herb of Washington, Cindy McGowan and husband Gary of Washington; six grandchildren, Gary Brewer of Greensboro, Kurt Schmitt of Washington, Gretchen Holla and Greg McGowan of Greenville, Scotty McGowan of Raleigh, Erin Daw of Winterville; eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Mr. Gilgo’s family would like to thank Community Hospice, especially, Scarlett Langley and Mike Huppmann, also his caregiver, Jackie Jones for her love and support.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2011 at Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the Beaufort County Humane Society, P.O. Box 8, Washington, NC 27889.

You may address condolences and view Mr. Gilgo’s memorial video by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Gilgo family.

Paid Obituary