Gene Kilburn

Gene Kilburn, age 75, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at Hedrick Medical Center, Chillicothe, Missouri. He was born the son of Fred Gibson and Mary Frances Farr in Chillicothe, Missouri. He was raised by Carl Kilburn and later legally took his name. Gene was a 1968 graduate of Tina-Avalon High School. He married Cheryl Stottlemyre on September 24, 1971 in Germany. She survives of the home. He served in the United States Air Force.

Gene worked in route sales for many years before starting his own company, Kilburn Distributing. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. He liked working on cars, watching the Kansas City Chiefs and was obsessed with watching westerns.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl; three children, Kristy Fritsch (Bill) of Greenwood, Missouri, Brian Kilburn (Anneshia) of Chillicothe, Missouri, and Beth Holder of Chillicothe, Missouri; twelve grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren; two brothers, Bud Kilburn (Sherry) of Carrollton, Missouri and Phillip “Greg” Gibson (Denise) of Kearney, Missouri; two sisters, Janese Timmons of Meadville, Missouri and Christy Utter (Raymond) of Gladstone, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mary Kilburn; his biological father, Fred Gibson; and grandson, Zachary Leihgeber.

Funeral services will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. A visitation will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 one hour prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.