Gilberto "Gil" Cortez

Gilberto was born November 16, 1936 in Brownsville, Texas to Elias and Rebecca Cortez and raised in Mercedes Texas with his three younger sisters. He attended Mercedes High School then joined the Air Force in 1955 where he had tours of duty in Washington, Missouri, the Philippines, Japan and Germany, with several short duty assignments in the Far East, France and England. Gil married Myrthel Loleta (Lolly) in Spokane, WA at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, October 16, 1959.

His last overseas assignment was at Zweibrucken Air Force Base in Germany where he was then re-assigned to Williams Air Force Base in Mesa, Arizona where he retired after 21 years in the military.

After his retirement from the United States Air Force in 1975, he pursued a career at Valley National Bank, eventually retiring as a corporate officer in 1991.

Gil is survived and remembered by his loving wife Lolly, and their children Rebecca Anne (Terry), Gilbert Jr, (Michelle); and Belinda Lee (Casey). Grandchildren, Jonathon Brock, Parker Austin, Abbie Jordan and Rylie Camille (Millie), and siblings Delia (Sal), Ofelia and Arcelia (Onesimo) and their families.

A memorial service for Gilberto will be held Tuesday, September 8, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, 10940 East Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler, AZ 85248. An inurnment will occur Tuesday, September 8, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM, 10940 East Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler, AZ 85248. A burial will occur.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com for the Cortez family.