Honorio De Guzman Gabat

Honorio, my husband of 54 years and six months was the eighth child of Felix Roca Gabat and Victoria De Guzman. His parents hail from the town of San Fabian in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines.

He was born on the 21st day of July in the year 1940 of our Lord in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. As a young boy, the family moved to Quezon City. It is where he spent his boyhood years.

At a young age of twenty, he left the country for America to serve in the US Navy. Honorio and his brother Emmanuel joined the military at the same time. He made a career in the Navy and spent twenty-four years in service and retired as a Chief Petty Officer.

While in the Navy, he had different tours of duty while aboard different ships and had the opportunity to see different places in the Caribbean and Europe. He was on board the USS Towers DDG-9 and USS Boyd DD-544 during the early part of his career. He was a Vietnam War veteran. He was also aboard his ship at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic during its Civil War.

At the height of his career, he was stationed at Pentagon at the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He was there during the term of Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary Richardson. He enjoyed his work at Pentagon. He was also stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, so our family lived in Washington D. C. during these years he was stationed at the Pentagon and Andrews AFB in Maryland.

On the fateful year of 1964, young Honorio went home for a vacation in the Philippines after working in the US service for four years. Hailing from the same town, my future parents-in-law introduced us candidly. Something must have sparked his fancy and that was the beginning of our courtship. Three years later we got married in the Philippines on June 28, 1967. His overseas duty station was at Cubi Point, Philippines. It is the place where we started our family. During this tour of duty our two oldest children were born.

We were blessed with three children, Griselda, Gilbert, and Glenn Philip. Glenn Philip, our youngest, was called back by our Lord five years ago, on November 17, 2016. The family was heartbroken of his early demise. He was 38 years old and still single.

My husband was a devoted family man. He loved his family, he worked hard, and even did part-time jobs to augment the family income. Bowling was his hobby and enjoyed watching basketball at Philadelphia’s Spectrum. Even while stationed in the US he had always been an avid bowler. Numerous trophies attest to this passion.

When he retired from service, he was on board the USS Johnston DD821 and his ship was homeported at Philadelphia Naval Base. He was then head of the supply department. He would have wanted to serve the country for thirty years, but he got sick while on duty on the ship. The voluminous work on the ship had taken a toll on his health. The following year, because of his medical condition he was honorably discharged after serving the US Navy for 24 years.

One year after his retirement he brought our family back to the Philippines. We lived there for thirty-one years in Baguio City. In the country as a retiree, he was active in church and community activities. He continued playing bowling with some of his co-retirees and formed their own team at Camp John Hay. Busy as he was, he was also into dog breeding specifically German Shepherd dogs. For many years, he participated in dog breeders’ competitions and most of the time, his dogs won him trophies. He was very proud of his dogs and took pride in showing off his trophy collection to his relatives and friends.

As a US military retiree, he was an officer of the Fleet Reserve Association. He was also an officer of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization. The group did community services like giving free meals to the needy families on weekends.

He was also active in our Parish Church, Don Bosco Parish Church in Baguio City, and at one time he was President of the Holy Name Society.

In 2015 Honorio and I decided to go back and live here in Las Vegas. Our three children were living here after college. At Henderson we finally bought our home in 2009 but lived here permanently since 2015.

Honorio’s passing on December 29, 2021, left a big gap in our hearts. We were so saddened as he left us before New Year. I have fond memories of him as a husband, and as a father of our children. These memories will always be with me as long as I live.

Honorio De Guzman Gabat is survived by me, Erlinda, daughter Griselda, married to Jason Griffin, and son Gilbert, married to Teresa dela Cruz, grandchildren Miko Griffin, and Michael Gabat, sisters Belen, married to Cesar Secoquian, and Imelda, married to Lucio Claro Abad, sisters-in-law Beatrice married to his late brother Emmanuel Gabat, and Clarita, married to German Gatchalian, nephews, and nieces, grand nephews, and grand nieces, great grand nephews, and great grandniece.

May God be with you. Rest in peace my love, Dad Nor, until we meet again.

Author: Erlinda B. Gabat

A gathering for Honorio will be held Sunday, January 16, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Palm Eastern Mortuary, 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123. A memorial service will occur Sunday, January 16, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123. A committal and military honors ceremony will occur Sunday, January 16, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Gabat family.