History & Staff

Ed Gamble, Founder, Funeral Director

Ed is the founder of Gamble Funeral Service. He is an active member of White Bluff United Methodist Church where he serves on the Nominations Committee. Ed is a member of the Executives Association of Savannah and Port City Lions Club. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science. Ed earned the lifetime designation and maintains annual certification as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner through the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He is a board certified funeral director and embalmer in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Ed was General Manager of Sipple Mortuary for eight years prior to starting Gamble Funeral Service. He is a member and Past President of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association. After almost 40 years as a volunteer firefighter, Ed retired in May 2020 as a Captain with the Clarendon County Fire Department, where he was voted Officer of the Year in 2017 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. Ed continues to serve as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Manning Fire Department. He has a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Sean Briley. Ed is known as “G” to his four grandchildren, Donnie, Hope, Aidan and Rowan, and his five great-grandsons, Bentley, Ashton, Avery, Audenlee and Trace.

Charlie Sipple, In Memory 1931-2021

Charlie was a native of Savannah. He graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia in 1953, after which he served in the United States Air Force. Upon returning to Savannah in 1955, he began working at the Sipple family’s funeral home. Charlie was a board certified funeral director in Georgia for over 60 years, serving families throughout Savannah and the Coastal Empire.

Bob Prindiville, General Manager & Funeral Director

Frank Murray, Senior Funeral Assistant

Frank is a native of Savannah and a graduate to Savannah High School. He attended South Georgia College, Norman Park College, and Armstrong State University. Frank retired from the 117th Air National Guard after 36 years of service. During this time he served in many capacities, including First Sergeant, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Command Chief Master Sergeant for the State of Georgia Air National Guard, active duty in Kuwait, and Counter Drug Training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
He was part of the family business, Savannah Lumber and Supply Company for many years. Frank has served our community in many ways, most notably sixteen years as the 4th District County Commissioner. He also served two terms as Chairman of the Chatham County Republican Party, is an active member of White Bluff Methodist Church and currently serves as Chairman of Staff Parrish Relations Committee.
Frank is married to Kathryn Getty Murray and has one son, Gray, and one granddaughter, Paige. Frank joined Gamble Funeral Service in April, 2005.

The Reverend Dr. Dewain Smith, Senior Funeral Assistant

Dewain Smith was born in Brenham, Texas. He and Diane married in 1969, moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1977, and to Savannah in 1989. They have 4 children and 8 grandchildren. He was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Savannah in 1985, serving at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta for 5 years and at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist for 21 years. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education, a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies and is in process to complete a doctoral program in K-12 education. He retired from a 30 year sales career in 2005. He began teaching at Benedictine Military School as a part-time Choir Director in 2001, and currently teaches full-time in the Religious Studies Department, Choir in the Fine Arts Department, and Band in the JROTC program. He considers his work at the funeral home (organist, officiating at a service, or assisting in a service) as an integral part of his diaconal ministry. Dewain has been with Gamble Funeral Service and Sipple Mortuary since 1999.

Frank Hill, Senior Funeral Assistant

Frank is a retired United States Air Force Master Sergeant. He is a member of Abundant Life Community Church in Pooler (a mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) where he serves on the Leadership Council and is a member of the music team. Frank is a member and Past Master of Thunderbolt Lodge #693 A. & F.M. and a member of the Thunderbolt Museum Society. He is a member of the Bonaventure Historical Society where he serves as a board member for lot liaison. Frank was married to the former Mildred Teeple, who died in 2009. They had four children, Frank R. Hill IV and his wife, Elizabeth, John Stephen Hill and his wife, Beverly, Christopher Teeple Hill and his wife, Gwen, and Andrea Kirsten Barrow and her husband, William, and eight grandchildren, Frank R. Hill V, Elizabeth Grayson Hill, Corbin Jeffery Hill, Cameron Jacob Hill, Angela Corinne Hill, Christopher Teeple Hill, Jr., William V. Barrow III and John Stephen Barrow. Frank has been with Gamble Funeral Service and Sipple Mortuary since 1997.

Cecil Deal, Senior Funeral Assistant

Daniel Jackson, Funeral Assistant

Cliff DeVan, Funeral Assistant

Louis Jenkins, Funeral Assistant

Steve Bass, Funeral Assistant

Dr. Sam Watkins, Staff Chaplain and Funeral Assistant

Bill Kleinpeter, Funeral Assistant

Bill Davis, Funeral Assistant

Bruce Nichols, (1937-2023)

Bruce was born in Lorain, Ohio, and is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point) and Michigan State University. He retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and later retired from Bank of America. Bruce is a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and is married to Judy Macolly. He is a past president and former member of Port City Lions Club. Bruce has been with Gamble Funeral Service and Sipple Mortuary since 1999.

Robert “Bobby” Phillips, (1947-2022)

Bill Goolsby, (1936-2022)

Bill was born in Freestone County, Texas, and was a graduate of Santa Paula High School in Santa Paula, California. He earned an Associates Degree in Fire Science from Southern Technical Institute in Marietta, Georgia. Bill served a tour of duty in the United States Air Force and retired as Assistant Chief in 1995 of the Savannah Fire Department after 35 years of service. He enjoyed golf, fishing and camping. Bill joined Gamble Funeral Service and Sipple Mortuary in 1996.

Jim Wilson, (1929 - 2019)

(August 21, 1929 – September 4, 2019)

Jim was a Savannah native. He attended public school and later joined the United States Army during the Korean War. Jim went on to own and operate his grocery store for several years. In later years he worked for Roger Wood Foods and retired as sales manager. Jim was a member of St. Michael and All Angel Episcopal Church, where he served on various committees including the Senior Warden. The Mysterious Santa Clause, Interfaith Hospitality Network and Smart Senior are a few of the ministries in which he was involved. Jim was married to his wife, Sue, for 48 years. The have two grown children, Sue and Keith. Jim joined Gamble Funeral Service in 2007.

Phyllis Wertz, (1929 - 2013)

(April 17, 1929 – November 18, 2013)

Phyllis was a native of Virginia and was educated in Washington D.C. and Shenandoah County in Virginia. She was a graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Phyllis taught school in Shenandoah County, Virginia, Hamblen County, Tennessee, and Savannah. She was married to the late Reverend L. Allan Wertz, Jr. for 45 years. (Allan, who died in 2001, was associated with Sipple Mortuary after his retirement from Faith Lutheran Church.) Phyllis is the mother of three daughters and the grandmother of three granddaughters.