Gilberto A Ornelas

Gilberto A. Ornelas (90) Born 10/18/25, passed away 11/7/2015, surrounded by his family. He was born in Globe, Ariz. to Guillermo and Angela Ornelas. His family moved to El Paso during the Great Depression, then to Juarez, Mexico. He was working at Southern Pacific Rail Road when he was drafted to the Navy in 1944, stationed at Camp Perry, VA. He traveled to the South Pacific on board the USS Volans. He was on the USS Bottineau at ground zero during the Bikini Islands Atomic testing. He returned from the war to work again for the Southern Pacific RR before retiring then worked at Phelps Dodge Refinery. He loved to dance and was an avid fisherman. Gilberto was a very proud WWII Veteran and member of the Segura McDonald post 5615. He married Lucy Avila in 1953 and together they had four children: Gilbert Ornelas Jr., Richard Ornelas, Irene Salcido (Michael), and Gloria Quijano (Michael). He is also survived by son, Daniel Ornelas (Letty). He had thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He is survived by his sisters, Guadalupe Rodriguez, Angela Pritchard and Magdalena Carmona. Services will be held Sunday Nov. 15th at Del Angel Martin Funeral Home, Central 3839 Montana; Visitation from 5–9pm, rosary at 7pm. Funeral mass Monday Nov. 16th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3729 Hueco Ave., at 1:15pm, burial to follow at 2:30 pm at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.