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Obituary for Raymond "Ray" L. Gamba
Raymond "Ray" Gamba, of Brookings, passed away in Gold Beach on September 28, 2011. He was 85. Ray was born September 7, 1926, in San Francisco, CA to Louis and Lela (Lasher) Gamba. He grew up and attended school there. Following high school, Ray attended trade school until his 18th birthday when he enlisted in the US Navy. He served aboard the USS Taos Victory as a gunner's mate. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1946,Ray returned to the Bay area and began working at Standard Oil (now Chevron). He worked in various capacities including chauffeur for the president of the company in San Francisco. He then went to work for American Trust Company prior to their being acquired by Wells Fargo Bank. He worked there for 19 years before realizing his dream of owning his own business when he opened Big O Tire locations in Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville, CA. Ray married Marian Waring in San Leandro, CA on May 2, 1948. Following retirement, they moved to Kailua Kona, HI where they lived for 6 years and were members of the Mokuaikaua Church. They then returned to California, living in Paradise and Napa before making their vacation home in Brookings their permanent residence in 2007. Ray enjoyed fishing the Chetco River for over 40 years. He loved cars and woodworking and the less-than-occasional casino trip. He and Marian traveled extensively including a three week tour of the Holy Land in 1980. Ray was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and now, great grandfather, and will be missed. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Marian, of Brookings, daughter, Jan McCollister, and her husband, John, of Brookings, son, Gary Gamba, and his wife, Dotty, of Carson City, NV, grandchildren, John Buzolich and his wife, Jen, Gina Torres and her husband, Julio, Ashley Gamba, great grandson, Andrew Buzolich, brother, Richard Gamba, and his wife, Eleanor, of Novato, CA. Ray was preceded in death by a sister, Lorelei Kennon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ray's memory to The Trinity Lutheran Church Community Kitchen that serves a hot weekly meal on Fridays to those in need, 1200 Easy Street, Brookings, Oregon 97415. A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 3, 2011 at 11:00am at Redwood Memorial Chapel, 1020 Fifield St. in Brookings. Private interment will be at W. J. Ward Memorial Cemetery.
