Charles Leo Gilbert

Charles Leo Gilbert, 94, of Nampa, Idaho, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, January 5, 2026, after a brief illness.

Leo was born on November 17, 1931, in Mankato, Kansas, to Charles Clifford and Ellen May Gilbert. When Leo was three years old, his family moved to California. He enlisted in the Navy at a young age and was assigned to Tsingtao, China, receiving the China Service Medal. While in California, he met and married Rachael Elizabeth Reaney. The couple later divorced, but not before raising three big-hearted children: Michael, Allen, and Penny.

Leo moved to Mountain Home, Idaho, in the late ’60s, where he owned and operated the A&W drive-in. There, he met Mary Ellen Oyarzabal. The two were married in 1972.

During the same time period, he became acquainted with Bob Catlett while playing pool at John’s Barn, and the two began an unlikely friendship as well as a business partnership. They bought the old Orbit Bar and changed its name to The Office. Later, they purchased the Fondue House and transformed it into The Captain’s Galley, a seafood restaurant where Leo spent many hours preparing tasty dishes. Finally, they built LeBo’s, a bar featuring live music and a large dance floor on Main Street, conveniently located across the alley from The Captain’s Galley. After ten-plus years in the restaurant/bar trade, Leo and Bob sold the businesses. Leo had a love of “big rigs” and began driving long haul for Willis Shaw Trucking.

In 1979, Leo and Mary Ellen returned to the warmer weather of Napa, California, to be close to Leo’s parents. They had twin sons, Patrick and Tony, while there, and later moved to Southern California after the passing of Leo’s parents. Leo continued trucking for Smart & Final until his retirement.

Leo and Mary Ellen retired to the Treasure Valley in 2011 and made Nampa their home.

Leo loved to work. In fact, he loved hard work so much that he made it look easy. In his garage, he was a master builder. The workbench was his throne, and the hammer, saw, and power drill were his loyal subjects. He knew how to make just about anything and was forever inventing clever tool contraptions - custom rigs that made hard jobs easier.

He was blessed with a big heart and felt things deeply, even though he tried not to show it.

Leo was predeceased by his parents, Charles Clifford and Ellen May Gilbert; his siblings, Bonnie Lee Ratto and Raymond Clyde Gilbert; and his son, Patrick Gilbert.

He is survived by Mary Ellen, his wife of 53 years; his children, Michael Gilbert (Sue) of Arlington, Texas, Allen Gilbert (Kellie) of Midlothian, Texas, Penny Baker of Boise, Idaho, and Tony Gilbert of Los Angeles, California; his brother, William Gilbert of Napa, California; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Leo was privately interred in Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home, Idaho. There will be a celebration of Leo’s life at his home in Nampa, Idaho, in late April.