Gene Cilbrith

Mr. Gene Cilbrith, 82, owner of Utopia Exotic Birds, passed away at his home Thursday, January 8, 2004, after several months of illness. A memorial service is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Sunday, January 11, 2004, at Lady's Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. At other times, they will be at the residence. Mr. Cilbrith was born May 2, 1921, in Meade County, KY. He was the son of the late Paul F. Cilbrith and Laura Beaver Cilbrith. He retired from a Ford Motor Company dealership in Florida and relocated to Kannapolis in 1992 where he and his wife, Barbara, opened Utopia Exotic Birds. He served in the Army and traveled extensively throughout Europe, Germany and France. Mr. Cilbrith is survived by his wife, Barbara Holloway Cilbrith of Kannapolis; two daughters, Susan Leeds of Dallas, TX and Regina Moreno and husband, Manny of Miami, FL; two sons, David Cilbrith and wife, Joyce of Orlando, FL and Bobby Heath of Homestead, FL; a former daughter-in-law, Angie Heath of Auburn, AL; five grandchildren, Rachel Cilbrith, Shane Perlowin, Misty Dunson, Crystal Moreno, Gregory Moren; and a great-grandchild, Colton Dunson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice of Cabarrus County, Post Office Box 1235, Concord, NC 28026-1235. The family would like to thank their many friends and Hospice of Cabarrus County for the wonderful and caring support throughout Gene's illness.