Franklin Joseph Gilland

Franklin was a "Renaissance Man", a world traveler who lived in over 12 countries (France, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Greece, Jamaica, Portugal, England and the USA).

Frank was born in Mexico City, on March 25, 1932 to Franklin Worth Gilland (a WWI veteran & 1st Lieutenant Squad Commander of the US Army Signal Corps, originally from Tennessee but then from San Antonio) and Elena Chellet Gilland (of Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico). Frank had 6 siblings: Teresita Gilland (deceased), Helen Gilland Savage (deceased), Sister Mary Benet Gilland (deceased), Magdalena Chellet, and David Duard Gilland.

For grade school, Franklin attended the Instituto Cientifico Mexicano, of Mexico City. He spent many years traveling through out Mexico, and living in Mexico City, spending time with his maternal grand parents Robert Pierre Chellet and Julia Osante de Chellet.

In 1949 he graduated from the American School Foundation in Mexico City. He was accepted with a tuition scholarship and attended St. Ambrose College (now University) in Davenport, Iowa. He graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Upon graduation from St Ambrose, he was drafted into the US Army in August of 1953 during the waning months of the Korean War. Franklin served in the Quartermaster Corps in France as well as in Germany with US Constabulary until he was honorably discharged in July 1955 attaining the rank of Sergeant upon discharge.

During his time in Europe with the US Army, Frank was exposed to the newly created North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the U.S. Foreign Service. In late 1955, after his Honorable Discharge, Frank applied and was accepted into the U.S. Foreign Service. From 1956 to 1967 Frank served our country as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in varying capacities and positions:

• 1956 - 1958 General Services and Travel Officer – U.S. Embassy, Mission to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

• 1959 – 1960 Training Officer, Third Secretary Alliance for Progress/USIS/USAID – U.S. Embassy– Mission to Costa Rica.

• 1961-1963 Industrial Program Assistant, Third Secretary Alliance for Progress/USAID – U.S. Embassy, Mission to Mexico.

• 1963-1967 Regional Technical Aids Coordinator, Second Secretary Alliance for Progress/U.S. Embassy, Mission to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In 1962 while Frank was working in Lima, Peru, translating text books as well as, implementing the conversion of the library categorization from the Dewey Decimal System to the ISDN Library of Congress System, he met a beautiful, Peruvian, green eyed "co-ed" and technical assistant librarian, Francesca Gomez de la Torre Garcia Elespuru. On May 8, 1965, after a three-year long-distance courtship, Frank and Francesca (Paquita), were married in Lima, Peru.

In 1967 Frank left the US Government, and joined Sterling Drug Inc. (SDII) as an international executive in the Private Sector with the following assignments:

• 1968-1970 General Manager SDII Asuncion, Paraguay

• 1970-1971 Branch Manager, SDII Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• 1971-1973 Branch Manager, SDII Sao Paulo, Brazil

• 1974-1980 General Manager & Divisional Vice President, SDII Lima Peru

• 1980-1982 General Manager & Divisional Vice President, SDII, Milan, Italy

• 1982-1984 Regional Vice President & General Manager for the Middle East & North Africa SDII, Athens, Greece

• 1984-1986 Regional General Manager & Divisional Vice President for the Caribbean, SDII, Kingston, Jamaica

In 1986, after 20 years with Sterling Drug, Frank decided to retire and join the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service applying his many years of experience in international commerce once again to the US Government.

Between 1985 and 1991, Frank served in many positions as part of the US Department of Commerce:

• 1985-1986 Director of the US Trade Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil,

• 1986-1989 Commercial Attaché, First Secretary US Embassy, Kingston, Jamaica

• 1989 NAFTA Task Force, Mexico City, Mexico

• 1989-1990 Commercial Attaché, First Secretary US Embassy, Lisbon, Portugal

• 1990-1991 Acting Counselor for Commercial Affairs, First Secretary, US Embassy, London, England.

In his spare time Frank had many interests including participating in the American Chamber of Commerce organizations overseas and the Rotary Club. He was also passionate about the Boy Scouts, having himself been a Rover Scout in Mexico and held various leadership positions for the organization overseas over the years. His additional hobbies included "Little Theater", listening to music, participating in Barber Shop Quartets, playing tennis and various aspects of the arts: Frank enjoyed attending the Symphony and in particular the sing-alongs of the "Holiday Pops". Frank enjoyed traveling with his family around the world, exposing his children to the many wonders the world has to offer.

Frank deeply loved his family: He is preceded in death by his parents, Franklin Worth Gilland, Elena Chellet Gilland: His siblings Teresita Gilland, Helen Gilland Savage, his brother in Law, Frank Savage and Sister Mary Benet Gilland.

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Francesca Gomez de la Torre Garcia Elespuru de Gilland. His children: Daughter: Samantha Gilland Omlie and son in law, Colonel Austin R. Omlie U.S. Army (Retired) of Huntsville, Alabama; Son: Gregory Worth Gilland and his fiancé, Katie Hayes Mimari of San Antonio, Texas; and Daughter: Kathleen Gilland Mayes, and son in law, Matthew Mayes also of San Antonio, Texas.

His Grandchildren: Nicole T. Gilland, Ian R. Gilland, Madeline R. Gilland, Olivia M. Gilland, Jamie B. Mayes, Abbey S. Mayes and those of his extended family Aurora R. Omlie, Alyssa R. Omlie and great granddaughter Riley S. Baile.

Frank is also survived by his sister Magdalena Chellet and David Duard Gilland and multiple nieces, and nephews in Texas, California, Florida, Mexico, and Peru: Frank was loved by his extended family and friends who lived around the world.

His family is thankful for the loving care provided by Avionn Home Health Care (Veronica Carmona), Altus Hospice and Elsa Ruiz Cordoba during his last days.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

• The Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org

• St. Jude's Children's Hospital https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/donation.do?pID=24671

• The Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate

A Rosary and viewing is scheduled for Thursday, June 15th at 6:30 at Porter Loring 1101 McCullough, San Antonio, Texas 78212

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday, June 16th, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 223 East Summit, San Antonio, Texas 78212 at 10:00 am, followed by his interment at Mission Burial Park.