Gilbert L Cantu

.Gilbert spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy where he served on 18 different carrier ships and received the Good Conduct Medal. He served 3 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve between tours with the Navy, in which time he settled his family in San Antonio. When he reenlisted in the Navy they moved to Virginia Beach and several other bases before permanently settling in Grand Prairie in 1974. After settling in Grand Prairie he worked for LTV as an air craft inspector and part time at a bowling alley as a lane mechanic.

He was a good bowler who played in tournaments and was president of Amistad in Dallas. Gilbert enjoyed traveling to such places as; Colorado, WinStar, the 4 points in Arkansas, Smithsonian Museum and taking a Caribbean Cruise. He liked to play pool, dominos, pinochle and blackjack. Gilbert was a handyman who liked to have a good time. He was a jokester who was laid back and could be stubborn. He enjoyed watching sports, especially the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and UT Longhorns. He was a fan of classic western movies, bar-b-ques on the weekends and caring for his yard. He loved his yard to the point that he cut the grass almost every 2 days just to insure the grass was always perfect. His pride and joy in his yard were his pink roses. With all his passions his greatest joy was his family. He was a dedicated husband, loving father and caring grandfather, brother, son and cousin. He consistently put his family first, being a hard worker to provide and teaching them how to be hard workers also.

Gilbert is preceded in death by his father Raul Cantu, mother Dolores Lopez Cantu, brother Robert Cantu and sister Annie Lucio.

He is survived by his wife Julia Cantu, children: Hilda Gautney, Cindy Cantu, Gilbert Cantu Jr., Adrienne Sandoval and her husband, Julio; grandchildren: Mondy Gomez and his wife, Ashleigh, Gregory Gautney and his wife, Maghan, Aaron Gautney, Cecilia Cantu, Jacob Sandoval, Noah Cantu, Celeste Sandoval, Amanda Cantu; great-grandchildren: Gabriel Gomez, Grace Gomez, Landry Gautney; siblings: Raul Cantu, Irene Morales, Andrea De Los Santos, Lucy Pruneda, Ruben Cantu, Libra Cantu, Olga Quintanilla and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.