Ralph Gilbert Wells was born on October 26, 1940, in Glasgow, Kentucky, son of L. Rogers Wells, Sr. and Jane Emerson Gilbert Wells. Gilbert was a 1962 graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He then joined the Navy and attended Officer Candidate School after which he served as the Combat Information Center Officer and Air Intercept Officer on two destroyers attaining the rank of Lieutenant.

Upon leaving active duty in the Navy, Gilbert met Jane McCormick, and they married in September of 1967. He worked in the family business, and simultaneously he and his brother founded Southern Explosives until 1970 when he joined the E. R. Carpenter Company in Russellville, KY and three years later was promoted to manager of the plant in La Mirada, California.

In 1975 Gilbert and Jane moved their family from California to Savannah where they started Coastal Marble Company, a manufacturer of cultured marble products. Gilbert served as President of the Piedmont Cultured Marble Association and subsequently was elected President of the National Cultured Marble Institute, now the International Cast Polymer Association.  He was founder and officer of the GA/SC Coastal subchapter of National Kitchen and Bath Association and then became a Certified Bathroom Designer. Coastal Marble evolved into Coastal Bath & Kitchen which they operated until November 2022.

Gilbert was an active member of St. John’s Church in Savannah where he served three terms on the vestry including one term as Senior Warden. He was a member of The Oglethorpe Club, The Savannah Rotary Club, Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Georgia and was the Chaplain for the Sons of the Revolution State of Georgia.

Gilbert is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane; daughter Meredith Lepley (John) of Savannah; son Rogers (Jenna Streett) of Savannah; son Landon (Jillian) of North Palm Beach, FL; granddaughters Madeleine McCormick Lepley, Landon Rogers Lepley, and Natalie Jane Wells; grandson Connor Michael Wells; sister Julie Wells Allison of Mount Pleasant, SC; sister-in-law Judy Rhea Wells of Versailles, KY, and brother-in-law Thomas McCormick (Jackie) of Marietta. He is predeceased by his parents and his brother L. Rogers Wells, Jr.

Services will be held on Wednesday, April 8 at 2:00 pm at St. John’s Church with Reception following at the Green-Meldrim House Remembrances may be sent to St. John’s Church, 325 Bull Street, Savannah, GA or Keepers of the Green-Meldrim House, PO Box 11061, Savannah, GA 31412.