Gilbert Galindo, Jr.

Date of Birth

January 5, 1938

Date of Death

February 7, 2023

Gilbert Galindo, Jr. was born January 5, 1938, in Santa Barbara, California. He passed away in Santa Barbara, California on February 7, 2023, at age 85. A friend, son, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Gilbert a native of Santa Barbara. His maternal lineage dates back seven generations to the founding of the Santa Barbara Presidio in 1782 by his fifth great-grandfather Efigenio Ruiz, a Spanish army soldier from Mexico with the Rivera y Moncada Expedition. He attended Lincoln Elementary School, Santa Barbara Junior High, and SBHS enlisting in the military at age 17.

He served in the Air Force from January 1955 to February 1975 receiving an honorable discharge with distinction upon his retirement. He served during the Cold war as a Flight Dispatcher and was a veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War Era. During his 20-year Air Force career, he served at home and abroad in many places. Some of his most memorable times in the service were spent with his family raising four young children from 1962-75 in England, Arizona, Florida, Spain, Germany, and Illinois. He was a long-time member of the Santa Barbara Moose Lodge and the Elks Lodge #613.

He had a beautiful relationship with his wife, Judi whom he met in 1994 unexpectedly. They became an important part of each other’s lives. He deeply loved her. He always told her how much he loved her. His wife was a significant and cherished presence in his life. He was the most caring man she had ever met. He made her laugh every day. He was her best friend, companion, and her love. She felt lucky to have had him by her side and he will be greatly missed.

He was a devoted father to his children, and cherished friend to many. He enjoyed spending time with his family, dancing and laughing together, singing karaoke, and working around the yard to make it beautiful. He loved nothing more than watching football and sipping on beer and tinkering around in his “man-cave”.  He was an affectionate person who had a genuine love for others. He always lived in the moment, cherishing every opportunity to be with those he cared about. He always had something funny to say, making those around him smile and laugh.

The sixth born of thirteen children, he is preceded in death by his father, Gilbert Galindo, Sr., mother, Mercedes Perez, brothers, Paul Galindo, Manuel Hernandez and sisters, Gloria Villegas La Prad and Arlene Cervantes Raad. He is survived by his siblings, Rosemary Olivas, Julia Espinosa, Maxine Vega, Eleanor Galindo-Portillo, Richard Galindo, Mercy Galindo, Guadalupe Cameron and Graciela Cynthia Briggs, and his beloved wife of 29 years, Judi Galindo and her children Paul Galindo and Denette Arroyo, and by his children, Lolita Burke, Lucinda Witte, Geno Galindo, Roseanna Galindo, and daughter-in-law’s, Anna Galindo and Nina Saghieh, son-in-law’s Peter Reid, Tesh Burke and Frank Witte, and grandchildren Paul Galindo, Steven Galindo, Raymond Padilla, Angie Vargas, Jeremy French, Austin French, Summer Frei, Frankie Witte, LillyAnn Burke, Camden Burke, Annaliese Kuhn, Micah Kuhn, Serena Kuhn, Nico Galindo, Kenneth Galindo, Dani Mitchell, and great grandchildren, Ashlyn, Lillian, Liam, Lukah, Jasper Ryley, Savannah, Adriana, Kairi, Giana, Lyla, Juliana, Zayden and Adalynn, including many cousins, nephews and nieces.

He will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him, and by all whose lives he touched. A private family gathering celebrating his life will be held on April 23rd. Gravesite service with Military Funeral Honors is to be held on April 24th 10:00 am at the Santa Barbara Cemetery.

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