Raymond J. Gilbert

Raymond passed away quietly in his Torrance home of 61 years the early morning of October 23, 2024. He was born in Berlin, New Hampshire on June 28, 1936, the only child of Jean Baptist and Germaine Gilbert.

After serving a little over 3 years in the Air Force, stationed in Delaware and Greenland, he came back to Berlin. Not liking the prospects of working in the town paper mill for the rest of his life, he left in early 1958 with a close friend and drove non-stop over 8 days to California. His friend went back to Berlin due to being homesick, but Raymond called his girlfriend and soon to be fiancé Marie Caouette, to join him on the West Coast. They were married June 20, 1959.

He worked as a machinist for 40 years, enjoying and supporting the activities of his son, Jean-Paul. Jean-Paul married Kimberly Harvey in 1987 and gave them their only grandchild, Jared Jean Gilbert. After Marie passed in January, 2000, he doted on and spoiled Jared. When Jared welcomed his wife, Chelsea Hammond, and her extended family to the fold in 2017, he was excited to become a great-grand father with Lily (2021) and Chloe (2023). He enjoyed talking to friends and extended family about his growing family. He also enjoyed telling many of his stories from his childhood and early adult life.

He is survived by his son, Jean-Paul and his wife, Kimberly of Huntington Beach; Grandson Jared and his wife Chelsea of Bermuda Dunes; great-grand daughters Lily and Chloe; and cousins throughout New England. He was predeceased by a daughter, Roxanne, twin sons David and Michael, and his wife Marie.