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GASTON -- G. Irvin "Jeep" Gaston passed from this earth on the afternoon of Friday, June 16, 2006. Jeep is survived by his wife, Caroline, of 54 years; son, Richard; daughter, Annie; two grandsons, William, 3; and Matthew, 1. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Henry Gaston and Lydia Gaston; and three siblings, William, Patsy, and DeVera. Jeep was born on August 6, 1928, in Kansas City, KS. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1948. He earned his BA in Math Education from the University of Kansas in 1951, and he received his MA in Statistics from KU in 1952. For two years he served as a teacher of Mathematics and Science in the Etna, CA public schools. During four summers in the early fifties, Jeep worked as the Director of Youth Programs for the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO, where he and Caroline developed a love of the mountains, and made many lifelong friends. This experience also began his long-term career involvement with the YMCA. Jeep served as a YMCA Director first in Fort Worth, TX, from 1955 to 1970, then as the Executive Director of the Albuquerque YMCAs from 1970 to 1982. He next capitalized on his lifelong love of travel by starting his own travel service "Tour New Mexico" in 1983. From 1984 to 1994, he drew on fundraising skills he had developed at the YMCA, engaging in development work for non-profit organizations around the country with Jerold Panas and Associates. Throughout his life in Albuquerque, Jeep was an active Rotarian, embodying the group's mission: "Service Above Self." He was the songleader and played Santa for the club for many years. Jeep also led a Group Study Exchange trip for Rotary to Brazil. He served on the Albuquerque Academy Board of Trustees for a number of years. In his later years, Jeep took up painting, and he and Caroline enjoyed many international and domestic travel adventures together. Jeep loved to learn, read, hike, eat well, take photos, talk with people, tell stories, sing, laugh, and have fun. He lived life fully in this world, while knowing he lives finally in God's Kingdom. He loved his family and was beloved by his family, which includes many sons and daughters who adopted him. Jeep showed us what it means to serve the Lord. A Memorial Service will be held celebrating the God-blessed life of Jeep Gaston at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, on Friday, June 23, 2006, at 3:30 p.m. A reception will follow at the home of longtime friends of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the "Jeep Gaston Scholarship Fund" of the Albuquerque Rotary Charitable Foundation, PO Box 3807, Albuquerque, NM 87190. French Mortuary, Inc. 1111 University Blvd. Chapel (505) 843-6333
        Published on: Thu June 22, 2006