October 12, 1958 ~ January 11, 2002
Resided in:
Torrance,, CA
Gilbert, Buddy Gene Born October 12, 1958 in Hawthorne, CA. Resided most of his life in Torrance, CA. Passed away January 11, 2002 while touring parts of Europe. Buddy is survived by his parents Dave and Judy, brothers Dave and Darrell, sister Kelly, neices Heather, April, Allison, Shannon, Toni-Anne and by family and friends across the world. Visitation will be held Monday, January 21 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at White and Day Colonial Mortuary in Redondo Beach. Funeral Services will be Tuesday, January 22nd at 2:00 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 706 Knob Hill Avenue, Redondo Beach. Entombment will follow at Pacific Crest Cemetery in Redondo Beach.
Guestbook
Buddy was a great man. I will remember him always from our times working together at Disneyland in the Electrical Parade. I am so sorry. Lynn
Uncle Dave, Aunt Judy,Dave,Kelly and Darrell, We wish to send our most heart felt sympathies in this time of shock and sorrow. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you. With love, Steven, Teresa, Courtney and Caleb
Uncle Dave, Aunt Judy, Dave, Kelly & Darrell, Mark, the kids & I are so very sorry. We wish there was more we could do for you. Please know that we love you & you are in our thoughts & prayers. Love always, Jeannine
To Bubby\’s Family, My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Buddy and I worked together for many years. He and I, along with our other friends at Disney, had many wonder times together. He will be greatly missed. With deepest sympathy, Karen Sitz
To Buddy\’s Family: My thoughts are with you during these difficult times. He will be missed. I had the opportunity to work with Buddy for many years at Disneyland. We had quite a few laughs and those memories will last with me forever.
Our prayers are with you all.
I have fond memories of working with Buddy for many years at Disney. He had many friends, all of whom will certainly miss him. I offer my sincere condolences to his friends and family.
To Buddy\’s Family: Please accept my sincere condolences.
To Buddy\’s Family, We had the great pleasure to work with Buddy at Disney. His laughter and friendship will remain with us always. We are all better for having known him. God Bless.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. Working with Buddy at Disney, at the High School or in Texas was always a great time. His humor was something we enjoyed and it never failed to put a smile on our faces. He will be sorely missed.
I worked with Buddy for years at Disneyland and he ALWAYS made me laugh. He will be missed and remembered forever.
Buddy and I worked together for many years at Disneyland and teaching at Los Altos High School. We shared numerous memories, most of which are humorous, that will remain with me my lifetime. It is with great sorrow that I offer my deapest sympathy to you for my dear friend, Buddy. God bless you.
Buddy always stood out to me as the a parade captain that went out of his way to let me know he appreciated my performance. That meant a lot to me when I first started and was just trying to get to know people. Our love and prayers are with you all.
TO THE GILBERT FAMILY OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL DURING THIS TIME OF SORROW. WE SHALL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE JOY HE BROUGHT ALL OF US AND ALL HE CAME IN CONTACT WITH,GOD BLESS AND MAY HE LIVE IN OUR MEMORIES FOR EVER WILL MISS YOU BUDDY.
Uncle Dave and Family, There are no words for the loss we are all feeling. Saying “Sorry for your loss” or “Our thoughts are with you” just don\’t seem to say enough. Anne and I were talking about what we remember about Buddy. She was always too young to remember him. All she remembers is that he liked penguins. I on the other hand have some strong memories. I think the one I remember most was when I had my two front teeth knocked out with a baseball bat. When my teeth came in I felt I looked funny. He reassured me I had a beautiful smile and to this day when someone says what a beautiful smile I have I think of Buddy because he helped me feel confident enough to smile again. Thoughts of Buddy will always make me smile even through the tears.
My prayers are with the Gilbert Family.
Dear Uncle Dave, Aunt Judy, Dave, Kelly, Darrell, I cannot even begin to know the sadness you must be feeling. It breaks my heart that you would have to go through this. Buddy always seemed to go out of his way to make us country cousins feel welcome and loved. I can\’t even imagine what he thought of the cousin who would wear overalls to the Bonaventure Hotel, and just ride the glass elevator over and over. He just laughed and said enjoy yourself. I am so glad I had the blessing of having Buddy as my cousin. I just wish you did not have to go through any of this. I love you all very much. Love, Julie, Mitch, Amanda, Randi, and Jake.
Dear Uncle Dave, Aunt Judy, and family: I am so sorry I can\’t be there for you at this very difficult time. We all love Buddy very much and will miss him terribly. He showed us a wonderful time while we were there visiting last summer. If there is anything we can do for you, please let me know. We love you all. Love, Susan, Steve, Emily, Beth, and Stephen.
The one thing I will remember about Buddy is that he would make me laugh. He could always put a smile on your face. I am happy to have met Buddy and call him a friend. He will be missed. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
I have many happy memories of Buddy. My prayers are with you at this time of loss.
Dave, Judy, Dave, Kelly and Darrell, I am so sorry. I wish I could be there for you guys at this time. I pray that you know Buddy is loved by all and has brought so much joy and happiness to many. I love you all and want you to know I am praying for you. Love, Louisa
At this time of loss, my thoughts, prayers and love are sent to the Gilbert family. Truly, Buddy will be missed yet remembered in our hearts.
Dave, Darrell, Kelly and Mr. & Mrs Gilbert My Family and I send our deepest sympathies and prayers in this time of sorrow and need. I went to school with buddy and enjoyed being in the marching band under his direction especially when we beat West High in parade competition. Buddy will be missed by all who knew him.
Our family is deeply saddened by Buddy\’s passing and our prayers are with him and his family. I\’ve known him for around 27 years since high school, and Buddy and his family has always been and will always be, a very big part of my life. I was best of friends with each of the Gilbert brothers at one time or another. A friendship I still hold dearly. I remember the time Buddy and I first learned to ski. My brother Robin and Dale Holland taught us at Snow Summit in the 70\’s. We looked like the typical “NEW SKIER”. Buddled up from head to toe for warmth and for padding when we fell. You know, kinda like how a mother buddles up little kids to play in the snow? We looked absolutely stupid!!! But we had the best time of our life! Buddy had the best sense of humor, and a sense of freedom I envied and admired. He will always be considered part of an extended family to me, along with his brothers, sister and parents. “I will miss you Bud, my brother, more than you\’ll know…” Glen Vergara
Dear Dave, Judy, Dave, Darrell, and Kelly My family and I send to you our deepest sympathies and prayers. And I know that at this time, like others in the past, the closeness and strength of your family will again help bring all of you through this very difficult time. For myself, the sadness after hearing of Buddy\’s sudden death quickly turned to that of fond high school memories and old family friendships. When I think of Buddy, I recall the many memories of the times I spent with him: Marching Band, Drum Major camp, the many hours practicing for competitions, “TP-ing” of countless houses, watching him aimlessly \’hopping\’ about in the mall after we kidnapped him and put him in a Bunny suit, and lastly, the day he stood up front with me at my wedding (23) years-ago today… Our love and prayers are with you all. Love ~ Robin, Cheryl, and the Kids
Even though we cant be there with you all, we are with you! You are all in our prayers. We love you Uncle Dave & Aunt Judy Eric
My deepest sympathy and sorrow go out to all of the Gilbert Family. Buddy was a wonderful friend. He had a profound affect on my life that I will always cherish. He took me under his wing @Disneyland and then again lead me to Jack Morton where I now work and enjoy so much. Buddy always believed in me and supported me in the way he did with so many people. He was a super special, sensitive, and incredibly charming person that will be greatly missed by so many. I will miss hearing his laugh, but it\’s funny how his laughter still rings in my head…unforgettable!
Dear Dave, Judy, Dave, Darrell and Kelly On behalf of the Holland family please accept our deepest sympathies at Buddy\’s passing. While we are saddened to hear of Buddy\’s death I remember during our high school years the closeness of our friendship and the fun we all had together. Those of us in the band shared special times together. His sense of humor will be missed by all those that he touched during his life. Our prayers are with you during this difficult time. God Bless You. Dale, Barbara, Geoff and Amanda
I didn\’t know Buddy very well, but I still loved him. He was my cousin, and I am sorry that I never got to know him. Good bye Buddy. I am sorry Uncle Dave and Aunt Judy for your loss. You are all in my prayers.
My Thoughts and Prayers are with The Gilberts.Buddy was a Terrific friend and His love and Laughter will be missed.
I have fond memories of Buddy. He was a friend and co-worker at Disneyland in the 80\’s. He was always a very sweet and caring person. I am sad at his passing.
Thinking of you.
Dear Dave and Judy, When I think back about Buddy my strongest memories are of when I married and moved away. I remember Buddy going through Mother\’s House calling out “Doan, Doan” and he couldn\’t find me. He was my little boy and he always will be. I am gratelful that God gave me one more chance to see him before he left us. Those few moments together will always be precious to me. I can\’t even begin to know your pain or loss but know that Buddy was as precious to me as if he were one of my own. I believe that he left this world knowing that he was loved and cherished. All my love and prayers, Joan
We were so sorry to hear of Buddy\’s Death-so young. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time of sadness, I remember working on getting the North High Band to Chicago back in the early 70\’s. We made it and Buddy was among them along with Dale, Robin, Dave and many others. What great fun they had. With deepest sympathy-Betty and Dutch Holland
I can\’t express how sad I am to hear of Buddy\’s passing. Buddy (Buzz) has been a dear friend of mine since our first meeting in 1978. The fun was endless on the rifle line at CSULB and teaching for United Spirit Association. I will always cherish the endless hours we spent listening to the Partrige Family and hanging out at Bob\’s Big Boy. I took volleyball seven times at CSULB with Buddy and between vollyball in the morning and band in the afternoon we just hung out. If I needed a friend to go to the garment district with or just somebody to play rifle with, Buddy was there. Dave and Judy, you\’ve raised a wonderful son who was a great friend to many. I will miss him so much. Thank you for sharing him with all of us. God bless you and your family. Love, Wendy
A Complete Life, If Not A Life Completed Forty-three years is still a short span for a person to make their mark. But I believe Buddy, with purpose and a determination to grow, achieved a complete life, if not a life completed. And I believe his passing has not left us empty but rather full – full of memories that contain a message for us all: We gain from life in relation to our commitment to life. And Buddy’s commitment to life was absolute and his rewards many. The years we were together, roughly starting around 1974 where I met Buddy and Dave in the High School Band at North High, Buddy was a person full of energy and spirit. Buddy was very funny, and we shared many laughs together and spent many late night hours talking about our futures. Along with Buddy, his brothers, sister, mother and father was a big part of my life when I was growing up. I felt more like a brother than a friend to them all, and Buddy’s parents, Dave and Judy treated me more like a son then a just a person who visited them at all hours, eating their food … And later with Darrell, “corrupted him for all eternity†when we started hanging around together. But not once did they give me the impression that I was intruding on them. Their house was a second home to me for years. And I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for that. I was always proud of Buddy’s accomplishments and tried to pump his brothers for information about him through the years we lost contact. He was one of my closest friends for many years, and I will miss his physical presence. My prayers and thoughts are with the family today. And I wish Buddy the best the universe has to offer. But I believe I will be seeing him again. Rest in peace my dear friend… Glen Vergara
Thank you Buddy for the smiles and laughs.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Gilbert Family and all of Buddy\’s friends of which he had many. He was a very warm and giving person and I\’m very thankful I knew him.
The Sencerbox family was shocked and saddened to hear of Buddy\’s passing. Though we hadn\’t been in contact for many years, Kathleen and I have many fond memories of Buddy and Dave and the North High Band. Buddy was such a genuinely good person who brought a lot of fun to our high school years.