Gilbert R. Cabrera was the eighth child born to Rosalio and Adela Cabrera on November 16, 1934 in Robstown, Texas. He was a second youngest of a family of nine children, and the youngest male child. During his elementary school years, he attended St. Anthony Catholic School, Wynn Seale Middle School, and worked at the family business, The Cabrera Bakery.He enrolled in the Marines at the very young age of 17 years old by convincing his mom to go to the church and obtain new documentation with a January birthday. For years, we celebrated his birthday in January until we receive documents revealing his true birthday was in November. He served during the Korean War, a harsh war that he did not speak about until his later years in life. Simper Fi! He met Estelle Solis while attending a dance in Corpus Christi. Soon they married and remained married for the next 60 years! They began their life together in Robstown, Texas and started a family. He was a diligent and hardworking man, even taking seasonal jobs as a crop picker in Michigan, Chicago, Florida, and Minnesota. His baking skills landed him a job at HEB as one of their best bakers. Seeking opportunities and a better life for his growing family, he moved to Monrovia, California in 1965, then to Duarte, and eventually settled in Azusa, California where he and his wife raised seven children and hosted numerous family BBQs and celebrations. Once in California he landed a job with Xerox Optical Fabrication making lenses for the military and worked there for 27 years until his retirement. In the early years, on the weekends he supplemented his income by gardening and making wooden crates for Xerox.In his leisure time, he enjoyed taking his young family off road vehicle riding in the desert and foothills where several stories of adventures came about. He also enjoyed taking his family fishing and packing the family on trips to his beloved home state of Texas. On many occasions, he and Estella enjoyed trying their luck by buying lottery tickets and taking trips to the casinos dreaming about how they would spend the money if they won. More than anything Gilberto enjoyed hosting Texas style BBQs for his family. He loved his grandchildren, and of course watching a good football game, especially the Dallas Cowboys!Upon retiring from Xerox, Gilberto continued a long life of family tradition by opening his own bakery, the first Cabrera Bakery/Deli on the west coast, right across Azusa Pacific University. There Estella and Gilbert would rise early in the morning to bake all sorts of delicious pan dulce, bread, tamales, and delicacies. Needless to say the family really enjoyed visiting the bakery! He also made specialized cakes for occasion such as Tommy Lasordaa cake he made for a Dodger employee.When the University wanted to expand, they purchased his lot providing the opportunity for Gilberto to build on his real estate property in Azusa. He continued to live in Azusa until 2009 and then returned to the state of origin, his beloved home state of Texas. Here, in Fort Worth, Texas he spent his final years with his wife of 60 years where they both enjoy the company of family and many relatives that stopped by to visit. He passed away on November 27, 2018 to join his beloved Estella who sadly passed away last December. Gilbert is survived by his baby sister Devina Alvarez; 7 children Gilbert, Richard, Velma, Jesse, Lisa, Ronnie, and Diane; 21 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.
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