GILLES, Gilbert William 1915-2005

GILLES, FOX, MIELITZ, DIOCSON, SPRUNG

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 5/21/2011 at 09:29:58

Gilbert William Gilles 1916-2005

MAN TRUMPETED FOR TRUMAN

MT. ANGEL, OR -
Gilbert William Gilles died Tuesday, Oct. 11. He was 89.
Gilbert Gilles was born to Joseph and Nora (Fox) Gilles on June 2, 1916 in Douglas Township, Iowa. He served in the Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1945 and was stationed in Washington D.C. and Hawaii. He married Darlene Mielitz on December 17, 1939 and they settled in Torrance, California.

Gilbert worked as an accountant at Armco Steel and retired in 1987. They moved to McNary Estates (Keizer, OR) in 1990 and later to Mt. Angel. He enjoyed gardening and tinkering with things like polishing rocks. He loved family outings and camping.

Gib and Darlene used to cut a mean rug when they would go dancing. Gil had played in a band and even played trumpet during a campaign trip for President Truman. He loved to bring joy to people's lives and was always smiling. He was considered the unofficial ambassador for Mt. Angel Towers. Darlene preceded him in death in 2003.

Survivors include daughter, Ann Diocson of Mt. Angel; sons, James (Deb) Gilles of Sacramento, Calif.; Jerome (Zusie) Gilles of Carson, Calif.; and Edward (Joni) Gilles of Keizer; sister, Marcella Sprung of Riceville, Iowa; 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10 a.m., Thurs., Oct. 20, 2005 at Mt. Angel Towers. Interment will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20 at Calvary Cemetery. Contributions may be made for Parkinson's Disease Research. Arrangements are by Unger Funeral Chapel, Mt. Angel.

Keizer Times, Keizer, Marion County, Oregon Published: Friday October 21, 2005