Edmundo R Gobaton

Edmundo attended school in Nabua. High School was cut short due to family hardship and decided to join the military to help support his family.

In 1946, he enlisted in the US Army and served in Guam for 3 years. After this enlistment, Edmundo returned home to finish High School. During this time, he helped run the debate team and served as Class President. Here, he met the love of his life, Hospicia Pacardo.

In 1953, joined the U.S. Navy and shipped (U.S.S. Brown DD-546) to California where he attended the Naval National Training Center and graduated. The U.S.S. Brown was home to Edmundo for the next five years. He worked as projector operations and repairman, traveling to places like Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Samoa and Australia. At the end of his enlistment, he went home to marry Hospicia on January 17, 1960.

Edmundo re-enlisted and was assigned to the U.S.S. John McCain and then was based in Norfolk, Virginia. While stationed in Norfolk, he was awarded a Letter of Commendation for his service during the Cuban Crisis.

While on the USS Forestal, he visited France, Niece, Italy, Constantinople and Greece. After which he went back to the US (Jacksonville, Florida) aboard the U.S.S. Delano Roosevelt.

In 1966, stationed in Danong Vietnam at Camp Tien-Sha, he served in the distributions department.

He received another Letter of Commendation for coordinating and taking charge of the mess hall in 1967.

He received orders to go to San Diego, California in 1968 where he eventually retired with honorable discharge in 1973.

After retiring from the Navy, Edmundo earned a degree in Hotel-Restaurant management. He went into the restaurant business and opened a restaurant where he and his family spent the next 11 years. Edmundo held jobs selling insurance for A.L. Williams, working for the CPO Club, and the Department of Corrections. He retired in 1993. In retirement. he was a member of the Knights of Columbus where he served as the Treasurer. Edmundo was also a member of Paradise Valley Rotary Club. He served as a Director, a Treasurer and went on several medical missions to the Philippines.

Edmundo R. Gobaton, 97, of San Diego California, passed away on the morning of September 25, 2025. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.

Edmundo and his wife were married for 54 years until Hospicia's passing on January 25, 2014.

He is survived by seven children: Rosemary Brock, Heda Flake, Norvie Payton, Jane Menke, Edmundo Gobaton Jr, John Gobaton, and Pearl Santiago.

Thirteen grandchildren: Sharina Menke, Joe Montes, Arianna Caramat, Jordan Menke, Allison Brock, Dylan Gobaton, Danielle Flake, Gabriella Gobaton, Catelin Gobaton, Sabrina Gobaton, Lyndon Flake, Jonathan Gobaton, Makaio Santiago and three great grandchildren: JC Montes, Michael Montes and Eriyah Menke.