Gilbert Leonard Grill

Gilbert Leonard Grill was born in Long Beach, California on August 7, 1922 to Phillip Albert Grill Jr aged 35 years (an electrician) and Esther Marion Grill (Graves) aged 29 years (housewife). Gil went to work at Pacific Telephone and Telegraph as a clerk for 1 year, after finishing high school in Los Angeles. He then joined the Navy and was sent for Basic Naval Electrical school at Chapman college, followed by training to become a gyro compass specialist at Treasure Island, San Francisco. Once finished he hopped a 3-day train ride to Norfolk, Virginia to train as part of a joint amphibious task force involving Army, Marines, and Navy. Gilbert was assigned as an Electrician’s Mate 2nd class aboard the USS Frederick Funston, APA 89, an attack transport that was destined to transport men, machines, and wounded in the American European-African-Middle Eastern and Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns. He was involved with Sicilian occupation, Salerno landings, the capture and occupation of Saipan and Guam, Leyte and Lingayen Gulf landings, as well as the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima. For these braveries the Frederick Funston (Gil’s Ship) received 6 battle stars in World War 2. After the war, he returned to AT&T as a switchman and worked his way to management.

July 9, 1945, Gilbert Leonard Grill married Lois Odette Child In Culver City, California. The wedding was officiated by Father Philip Lawrence Grill, the grooms older brother. They settled in Paramount, California and built themselves a home, starting with the garage. Together they created a happy family with 7 children. Lois and Gilbert were very involved in their church, Our Lady of the Rosary .

Gil enjoyed taking the family to the “Ranch” on weekends where they hiked, hunted, and rode motorcycles. He loved swimming, golfing, and water skiing. In 1999, he learned to snow ski at the age of 77.

After retirement, in 1993, Gil and Lois moved to the “Ranch” in Perris, California . He began building and refurbishing houses, and traveling about in a motor home. They had a ball going all over the US. Flying made it easier to visit Europe, parts of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico.

November 14, 2011, Gil lost his beloved Lois Odette Grill (8 Dec 1924 – 14 Nov 2011) after 66 years of marriage, and had a hard time adjusting to life without her. He continued to climb the mountain behind his home until he was 96. He gradually declined and didn’t enjoy the restrictions imposed upon him by Covid-19. A broken hip put him in the hospital on December 17, 2021 and he lost his battle December 20, 2021 at 99 years old.

Besides Lois, Gil was predeceased by his father Phillip Albert (3 Apr 1887 - 18 Feb 1963), his mother Esther Marion (26 Nov 1892 - 25 Sept 1988), his son Joseph Mario (8 Mar 1955 - 22 May 1974). Additionally, all of his siblings had predeceased him including: Colleen Ann Grill (Lavin) (6 Jan 1925 – 12 Nov 1994) and her husband, Richard John Lavin (16 Oct 1923 – 21 Feb 2013); Mary Monica Grill (Smith) (16 May 1918 - 26 Dec 2004) and her husband, Bernard Valentine Smith (31 Aug 1918 – 26 May 1997); Father Philip Lawrence (13 May 1916 - 6 June 2008); Emilie Marie Grill (Hurd) (3 Feb 1927 - 28 Feb 2011) and her husband, Robert Temple Hurd (20 Feb 1927 – 5 Mar 2012). Two sons-in-law had also predeceased Gilbert: George James “Jim” Tromblay (1 Oct 1942 - 7 Aug 1997) and William Joseph “Bill” Parker (12 Oct 1947 - 6 Jan 2011).

Gil is survived by 6 children: Amanda Christine Tromblay, Michael Lawrence Grill, Susan Marie (Mike) Doughty, Theresa Anne Parker, Leonard Mark (Linda-Jo) Grill, and Kevin Howard (Jill) Grill. He is survived by 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He lived a full life.

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