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Gilbert Duran Jr., 89, a resident of Los Angeles, CA and a former resident of New Mexico, passed away on April 30, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Catalina Duran; sons, Alfonso Orlando Duran and Gilbert Duran III; daughters, Patricia Duran and Catherine Duran; a sister, Ernestina Duran Evans and her son, Stanley Evans; He is the beloved grandfather of Adrienne and Jeffrey Shanks and Andrew and Michael Duran; and the great-grandfather of Adam Shanks. He is also cherished as a loving grandfather by the family of his wife, Catalina, who welcomed him into their home with love and great kindness. He is also survived by numerous relatives in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Born in the New Mexican village of El Rito, Gilbert left at age 17 to find work in California. Enlisting in the army at the start of WWII, he served in the battle of Corregidor and was one of the thousands of soldiers who endured the Bataan March and over three years of prison camp before liberation. Upon his return he earned a degree in Forestry at Colorado State University and spent his career in the U.S. Forest Service, first in New Mexico and later in Washington, D.C. Upon retirement and the death of his beloved first wife, Porfiria Ortega Duran, he moved to San Diego, where he followed politics avidly, having many incisive and trenchant letters published in the San Diego Times. He was a member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 10, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. til 7:00 p.m. at French - University location. Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at French - University Chapel. Please visit our online guestbook for Gilbert at www.RememberTheirStory.com. French 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333
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