Gerald Leo ("Jerry") Gloster, 85, went to be with the Lord on April 3, 2023, with his family at his side.
Jerry was born to John J. Gloster and Mary Arabolad Gloster on February 24, 1938, in Alturas, CA. Jerry spent much of his youth with his grand parents in Alturas, George and Claire Arabolad. He attended Modoc Union High School, where he was a standout basketball and baseball player, graduating in 1956, along with his life-long friends Melvin Allman and Dan Decious.
In 1957, Jerry and Melvin went to Shasta College to play college baseball. Jerry played 3rd base and maintained a 300-plus batting average.
After college, in 1961 Jerry went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Shortly thereafter, Uncle Sam came calling. Drafted into the US Army, Jerry spent two years stationed in Germany. Jerry's high school buddies thought Jerry ended up with a pretty cushy deal: he spent two years playing baseball for the 5th Army Corp baseball team! While in Germany, Jerry was privileged to see President John F. Kennedy up close; including at JFK's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in Berlin in 1963, several months before the President was assassinated. Upon being discharged from the Army, Jerry returned to Alturas and back to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Working for the railroad, Jerry had a stable, union job with good pay and benefits. As a self-proclaimed reward for his labors, Jerry bought himself a 1965 black, convertible Corvette Stingray. Always a stylish dresser, wearing the latest from San Francisco, Jerry looked quite the catch tooling around Alturas in style. Not surprisingly, he soon attracted the attention of a local blond bombshell, Wanda Malson. Jerry and Wanda married in 1965, in Alturas. Their marriage lasted 26 years.
Soon after his divorce, Jerry moved in with his true life-long alter ego, his brother John. Jerry and John ("Hefty') rented an apartment together at Meadow Lawn in Salem in 1988. Jerry and Hefty worked together in the Mobile Homes sales business until Jerry retired in 1995.
Jerry was a true fan of all things sports and all things San Francisco. He especially loved the San Francisco Giants (Willie Mays!); the Forty Niners; the Golden State Warriors; and the Cal football and basketball teams ("Go Bears!"). Jerry liked few things better than a stay at the Manx Hotel in San Francisco, great meals at local hot spots, and a 4-game series against the hated Dodgers. And, of course, with a stop or two at Cable Car Clothiers to buy the latest Italian suits and sportscoats.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents and his sister Mary Lou Server of Alturas. He is survived by his beloved brother, John; his sister, Yvonne Regimbal, of Salem, OR; sister, Donna Claire Gojenola, of Mill Creek, WA; brother, Kevin Kiely, of West Linn, OR; sister, Kim Wilkerson, of Portland, OR; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and nephews.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at Resurrection Catholic Church, Tualatin, OR, at 11:30 AM on April 15, 2023, to be immediately followed by a funeral Mass at 12:00. Internment and graveside ceremony will take place at the Alturas, CA, Cemetery, at a date later to be set.