Gilberto Herrera Gamboa

It is with a heavy heart we announce that Gilberto Herrera Gamboa, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away on December 18, 2022, at the age of 85. Born in the small town of San Jose de la Boca, Durango, Mexico on July 4th, 1937, Gilberto was the third eldest of six siblings. Gilberto and his wife Emilia met in the neighboring small towns where they were born and raised in Mexico. They moved to the United States in 1960 where they started a life and family together in Bishop, California, and married in 1961. Gilberto worked at the Pine Creek (tungsten ore) Mine in the adjacent Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. With hard work and dedication, he borrowed and saved enough money to purchase a home in the rural countryside and started their family with the birth of their eldest son, Miguel Arturo Gamboa. They were eventually blessed with three additional children, Alma, Gilberto Jr., and Hector.

Despite his serious disposition, Gilberto's infectious smile could light any room he entered. Gilberto was a carpenter at heart and enjoyed building things with his own hands. He also enjoyed planting and tending to a beautiful vegetable garden. He liked to cook with his wife, Emilia, and prepare meals for the family. He instilled a love for outdoor adventure in his children and frequently took them on trips into the mountains and surrounding countryside. Gilberto was a selfless man who always strove to provide for his family. He led by example and taught his children the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

Gilberto and his immediate family later moved to the Los Angeles – South Bay area where he worked as a maintenance worker for the Los Angeles Police Department Motor Transport Division. He continued to work tirelessly to provide for his family until suffering a severe stroke in 2001 which left him physically disabled for over 20 years – including losing his ability to speak. Despite this setback, Gilberto remained a shining example of strength and resilience for those around him, and he remained undefeated. He spent his later years with his wife and children, watching his family continue to grow with the birth of his grandchildren Lauren, Tyler, Madison, Gabriella, Sam, and Mia. He became an avid fan of the Dodgers and Lakers, and he loved to spend time playing dominoes with his grandchildren. He forever lives on in the hearts of those who loved him, and he will be dearly missed.

Gilberto was preceded in death by his father, Jose, his mother, Maria, his older brother Abelardo, and his eldest son Miguel Arturo (2016). He is survived by his wife, Emilia, and his three children Alma, Gilbert and Hector. A Rosary/visitation will be held on Thursday, January 19th at Green Hills Memorial Park Chapel from 5-8:30p.m. with Rosary at 6:30p.m. The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 20th at St. Lawrence Martyr Catholic Church in Redondo Beach at 11:00 a.m.