Vivian "Shirley" Bartle Gilbert

Vivian "Shirley" Bartle Gilbert, of Chester, VA passed away peacefully on Monday, May 11, 2026. She was born and raised in Chester by the late Gilbert L. Bartle, Jr and Pearl W. Bartle. She is also preceded in death by her brother, Gilbert L. Bartle, III.

She graduated from Thomas Dale High School and had a career with the Defense General Supply Center (DGSC), where she retired after 27 years as an Accountant. She continued to work after retirement, for Westvaco and then Long and Foster Real Estate as an Administrative Assistant.

She was a faithful member of Salem Baptist Church and Community Baptist Church. She was the bulletin secretary and financial recorder, along with being on the constitution and by-laws committee. Shirley loved gardening and cherished her time spent outdoors enjoying nature. When she did stay inside she loved to read and watch Nascar and football. She deeply enjoyed spending time with her beloved dogs, Dakota, Tundra, and Smeagol, lovingly spoiling them with pepperoni off her pizza.

She is survived by her children, Sonja Stech (Eddie), Belinda Barnes (Terry), and Marcia Adams (Donnie); her grandchildren, Amber Duryee (George), Adam Minton, Julia Stech (Garrett), Jacob Stech (Sarah), ReAnna Whiteside (Jonathan), Katelynn Southers (Jonathan), Lukas Whiteside (Amber), James Dich (Taylor), and Marissa Adams; eight beautiful great-grandchildren; her sister, Catherine B. Watkins; and her sister-in-law, Sandra Bartle. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and devoted many hours to her church congregation.

The family invites friends and loved ones to a time of visitation on Sunday, May 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Chester Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home.