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Manuel R. 'Manny' Gonzalez El Paso, TX QCWA # 12323 Chapter 64 |
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El Paso - MANUEL R. GONZALEZ, 83, CW4 (Ret) US Army, passed away Sunday, August 11, 2019.
Manny was born in New York, NY and grew up in the working-class Chelsea neighborhood. He received his amateur radio license as a teenager and was an active "ham" operator as W2BFI for 68 years.
Manny completed 32 years of military service in Air Defense Artillery and retired from active duty in 1986. He served in California, Boston, El Paso (Ft. Bliss), Germany, Korea, and Key West.
Upon his retirement, he began many years of volunteer work with PTA, Boy Scouts, as a band and orchestra parent, and served as a trustee at his church. In addition, he served on the Board of the Visiting Nurses Association and was an active member in several local radio clubs, including the QCWA, where he served as an officer for 29 years.
He loved his family, his church, his community, a wide variety of music, and was an avid Star Trek fan.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sharon, and his two children, Steven (Jessica) and Susan Gonzalez, and granddaughter Audrie Garcia-Gonzalez.
The celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 16, 2019 at 3:00PM at Western Hills United Methodist Church, 524 Thunderbird, with Rev. Kim Kinsey and Rev. Amy Mercer officiating.
Gifts in his memory may be made to the Western Hills Foundation, Western Hills United Methodist Church, 524 Thunderbird, El Paso, Texas, 79912.
Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West, 480 N. Resler Dr.
qrz.com: Licensed in 1951. Retired from the US Army in 1986 after 30 years of service in Guided Missiles with the rank of CW4. Done the DX thing as HL9UQ in 1969 (Korea) and DA1GM 1971-1977 (Ansbach Germany). Then DA2GM (Wurtzburg Germany 1978-1981 Prefer to ragchew. Life member QCWA and ARRL. Can operate all HF bands.
Excerpt from the Aug, 2019 Chapter 64 Journal Report
It is with deep regret that we report that our chapter Secretary/Treasurer Manny Gonzalez W2BFI, became a silent key on Aug 11, 2019 after a long illness.
Manny was born in New York, NY and grew up in the working-class Chelsea neighborhood. He received his amateur radio license as a teenager and was an active ham for 68 years.
Manny completed 32 years of military service in Air Defense Artillery and retired from active duty in 1986. He served in California, Boston, El Paso (Ft. Bliss), Germany, Korea, and Key West.
Upon his retirement, he began many years of volunteer work with PTA, Boy Scouts, as a band and orchestra parent, and served as a trustee at his church. In addition, he served on the Board of the Visiting Nurses Association and was an active member in several local radio clubs, including the El Paso Amateur Radio Club W5ES, Sun City Amateur Radio Club K5WPH, the West Texas Repeater Association and the QCWA, where he served as an officer for 29 years.
He loved his family, his church, his community, a wide variety of music, and was an avid Star Trek fan.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sharon, and his two children, Steven (Jessica) and Susan Gonzalez, and granddaughter Audrie Garcia-Gonzalez.
Manny was the glue that held Chapter 64 together for many years and will be impossible to replace. Rick W5PIE, will try as he serves out Manny's term as Secretary/Treasurer.
73 OM, CUL where the bands are always open.
Rick Rumbaugh, W5PIE, Chapter 64 Secretary/Treasurer
Terry (l) WA5PGF receives a Chapter 64 Life Membership
certificate from Terry, W2BFI (his last chapter picture)
