Prayers go out for Julia and her family. 

How very sad. I am sorry Sunny 

I'm so sorry the outcome resulted in the loss of this beautiful young woman. My prayers go out to her family and all who loved her.   

Oh Sunny, this is so sad -- I have been here praying for Julia's family and friends -- May God provide all of you that are grieving some measure of peace.

Love,
Pooks

How sad. Prayers go to the family and friends.

http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x167218011/Friends-others-recall-Edmond-OU-student

January 11, 2010
Friends, others recall Edmond OU student
The Edmond Sun E-edition Banner Icon

Mass set for Thursday at St. John

Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — Beautiful, vibrant, a Christian, a sorority sister, remarkable, strong, sweet. Those are some of the adjectives being used to describe Julia Gilbert.

The 21-year-old University of Oklahoma student from Edmond was found dead in her wrecked car Sunday afternoon. A passer-by spotted Gilbert’s upside-down 2002 silver Volkswagen Jetta in a ditch just inside Kingfisher County along Waterloo Road. She was reported missing Friday morning and dozens of residents joined in the search for her through the weekend.

“This is a tragedy for all the people who knew her and her family,” police spokeswoman Glynda Chu told reporters at the scene Sunday.

A wake service for Gilbert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Edmond’s St. John The Baptist Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s, 924 S. Littler.

Becky Coyle, director of religious education for St. John’s, said she knew Gilbert during her years as a student at Edmond North High School. Gilbert was a parishioner at St. John’s.

“She was an extremely outgoing young lady who was very dedicated in her faith,” Coyle said. “You could tell she was just a good person.”

Coyle said Gilbert enjoyed her confirmation class experience so much that she wanted to come back and help teach. Gilbert did so the following year, and was an excellent role model, Coyle said.

Chu said evidence of affection for Gilbert can be found by the growing number of friends and well-wishers posting on a Facebook page. More than 22,000 people joined the Find Julia Gilbert page during the weekend. Condolences, Scripture verses and poems were left for the OU senior who was scheduled to graduate in May.

Kelsey Easley wrote: “She made everyday in Spanish class so much fun. She always came with a smile to class!!! Everyone was a friend to her. I will never forget her smile and her kindness. Still in shock that she is gone. My thoughts and prayers are with the Gilbert family!!!”

Scott Ramsey wrote about how he has survived a child. “You won’t ever get over the loss of your beautiful daughter but you will be happy again,” he wrote.

Allyse Fairbanks wrote: “Julia helped to make my year and a half in Oklahoma an adventure ... I hold her in a special place in my heart. I am sending my love and prayers to all of her family and friends.”

Shelley Galyon posted two Scripture verses: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18) and “I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:13).

Another writer offered to help take down the missing person fliers, a gesture to prevent family members from painful reminders.

marks@edmondsun.com |

341-2121 ext. 102

THE DETAILS

what you need to know

The state medical examiner’s office has opened a file in Julia Gilbert’s death. No preliminary report on the cause of death was available Monday.

After watching the NCAA football national championship game Thursday evening, Gilbert went missing at about 3:30 a.m. Friday. Police said she was last seen leaving a friend’s house in the 600 block of Belle Air in Edmond driving to her parent’s house in the 6700 block of Cypress Hollow, also in Edmond.

Edmond Police spokeswoman Glynda Chu said Gilbert was alone in the car, and it appeared as if she was traveling west on Waterloo Road when she struck a guardrail. The car was found upside down, lying in a dry creek bed. Chu said why Gilbert’s car was found where it was may never be known.

“We don’t know why she was out here,” Chu said.

The cause of the accident is pending the outcome of an Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigation, troopers said. Gilbert was pinned in the car until it was found. She was wearing a seat belt and the driver and passenger side airbags deployed.