Nowata Star
126 E. Cherokee St.
Nowata, OK 74048
December 20, 2000
Permission for archiving obituaries given by Phillip Reid, Publisher

Memorial services for Calvin C. Gabriel 87, of Los Osos, California who died Sunday, December 10, 2000 in French Hospital, San Luis Obispo were held Wednesday at Los Osos Trinity Methodist Church in Los Osos.

Calvin was born June 4, 1913 in Nowata to Laura and George Gabriel. He graduated as Valedictorian of the NHS Class of 1931. He was grauated Summa Cum Laude from Oklahoma A&M College in 1935 as a distinguished scholar and musician. It was in college that he met, as he once wrote, "A beutiful and outstanding young lady named Ruth Barone" to whom he was a loving husband for more than 65 years. They were married on the university campus on July 21, 1935. Upon graduation he taught for two years with the schools in Blackwell. Calvin and Ruth moved to Washington D.C. where he was employed with the Civil Aeronautics Authority (now FAA). He transferred to Fairland, California and then to Oceanside in 1938. He served with distinction as the business manager for the Oceanside-Carlsbad Union High School and College District for 35 years. After his retirement, he moved to Los Osos in 1981. Mr. Gabriel began his business career as a "paper boy" for the Nowata Daily Star.

Mr. Gabriel was admired for his loving and giving nature, his respect for hard work and helping others; his quiet dignity and respect and tolerance for all people. During his retirement he expanded his volunteerism for the church and organizations also traveling and enjoying friends and family. In Los Osos, he was an active volunteer for Questa College and for Trinity United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the choir. He was proud of his 57 years service with Rotary International. Cal played the flute locally and was a member of the Cuesta Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Gabriel is survived by his loving wife, Ruth of the home; his sister, Wilma Jeane Gabriel of Nowata and four children: two daughters, Nancy and her husband, Gary Dumford of San Clemente, California and daughter, Barbara and her husband, David George of Los Osos; two sons: Cal Jr. of Encinitas, California and Bob and his wife, Sissy of Lake Oswego, Oregon; his grandchildren: Ralph and Cathy Kilgour of Victorville, Terri and Kirk Sidener of Morrow Bay; Stuart and Lisa Kilgour of Huntington Beach; Michele Gabriel of San Francisco and Chris Gabriel, a student at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado; five great-grandchildren.

At his request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Calvin and Ruth Gabriel Scholarship Fund at Cuesta College (PO Box 8106, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-8106) or to Trinity United Methodist Church (490 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos. CA 93402).