Obituaries

Passed away in her sleep on 25 February at the age of 90 years. She was born on July 17, 1929 in Nashville, Tennessee and was the loving wife of Charles Haulden Dalgleish, Jr., a World War II Navy Veteran and longtime Detroit area Cadillac and Oldsmobile dealer of a storied family business. She was the daughter of Dr. Joseph Pilmoor Gilbert and Thelma Elisabeth Gilbert (nee Maxwell). Her father fought with the US Army in France in World War I and he returned home to go to Vanderbilt Medical School and became a distinguished medical doctor in Nashville. Her father died early and her mother raised three children from their teens. Mary Jane grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and was a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a B.A. in mathematics. After graduation, she worked as a schoolteacher in Davison County, Tennessee for two years until her marriage and move to Michigan where she lived in Birmingham and then Bloomfield Hills until her passing.

She was very active in local and national groups and was a member of the Junior Women’s Association for the Detroit Symphony, the Junior Group Goodwill, The Village Club of Bloomfield Hills, a Past President of the Detroit area Vanderbilt Alumni Club, member of the First United Methodist Church of Birmingham, genealogist for the National Society of Colonial Dames, member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Orchard Lake Country Club. Genealogy was her great passion and she is a descendent of English Royalty and Scottish Highlanders. After her ancestors came to America, they served in almost every American conflict since the time of the French-Indian War of the Colonies. During her lifetime she was a great world traveler, especially to Europe with her husband and family. She had a great love of music, which she passed on to her children.

She is survived by her husband Charles Haulden Dalgleish Jr; her son, Colonel Charles Kenneth Dalgleish, US Army (Retired) (Ann) and her daughter Elisabeth O’Brien (John). Her oldest daughter Sara Jane later Sara Dalgleish Chason is deceased. Sara’s husband David survives. Her brother John Maxwell Gilbert is in Nashville and another brother Joseph Pilmoor Gilbert preceded her in death.

She was blessed with eight grandchildren of whom she was very proud and loved dearly. They are Benjamin Gilbert Chason, Rebecca Dalgleish Newlin (nee Chason), John Charles O’Brien, Jr, Kenneth Pilmoor O’Brien, Jennifer Mary O’Brien, Charles Edward Stuart Dalgleish, Henry Winston Maxwell Dalgleish, and James Leo Sherwood Dalgleish.

Family will receive friends Saturday, February 29 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rogers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Ave. (btw 13-14 Mile), (248) 549-0500.