Gilbert N Wang

community where he lived. He was born on April 22, 1927, at the St. Joseph Hospital, to Gilbert

Nils Wang, St. and Maude Wilkins Wang, He spent most of his growing up years out of the

desert in Maricopa, a community about 20 miles from Casa Grande, where his feather worked

for the Arizona Edison Company, a precursor to AZ Public Service. Gil attended a one room

school during his elementary school years and was bussed to Casa Grande for high school. At

age 17 he enrolled at the U. of A. majoring in Electrical engineering but during his second

semester, his dad was killed in an electrical accident. Gil dropped out of school to help his

mother move from the company provided house to home in Tempe. By now, Gil had 5 younger

siblings. A few weeks later he turned 18 and was drafted into the navy. He served 16 months.

The war ended and he returned to Tempe to go to college, but this time to the college of

Education. While in school, he met and married June Cross. They had 4 children and

celebrated 72 wonderful years of marriage. Gil was a teacher and principal in the Madison

School District for 35 years. After retirement, both Gil and June enjoyed doing some

untraditional traveling, with a cruise to Alaska on a floating campus with the University of

Pittsburgh, many elderhostel classes (now called Road Scholar) plus some trips called Untours,

where you visit a country and “live like a native” with the guidance from a local sponsor. These

trips took us to Switzerland, Germany, Italy and France. These were meshed with many, many

trips to western Kansas to visit June’s family.

Gil is survived by his wife June, son Nils (Sheri), daughter Lori (Charles), daughter Carol (Brian),

sisters Marian and Jeannette, 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his parents, baby daughter Artis, sister Ruth, brothers pete and Donnie.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Dec 9, at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium at the Glencroft

Retirement Community (Center for Modern Aging).

5611 N. 67th Ave.

Glendale, AZ 85302