Aug. 12, 1932 – Jan. 19, 2025
Everett Gilbert Orozco passed away on Jan. 19, 2025. He was born on Aug. 12, 1932 in East Los Angeles to his parents Santiago and Mary Orozco.
Gil’s family moved to Porterville, California when he was 12; he started his college career at Porterville College before enlisting in the Air Force at the age of 19. He served active duty for three years in France.
He got his mathematics degree from Cal Poly San Luis and, after graduating, got a job at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. He moved to La Crescenta, where he spend the remainder of his life, with his wife of 68 years and raised a family there.
Gil was in the Air Force Reserves for over 20 years raising to the rank of bird colonel. He was a flight instructor, squadron commander and served as a liaison for the Air Force Academy. He was a pilot with United Airlines for 34 years, captaining a 767 before his retirement in 2001. In his free time, he was a substitute teacher in the Glendale area school district, even teaching at Glendale Community College. He also taught others to fly small personal aircrafts at Burbank and San Fernando airports.
A lifelong public library patron, you can find the book he authored at the La Cañada Library about his career.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jane Orozco, his parents Santiago & Mary Orozco, his siblings Ishmael Orozco, Jim Orosco, Beatrice Orozco, and Rudy Orozco. He is survived by his children Connie Udabe, Kelly Costinett, Michael Orozco; his grandchildren Rachel Udabe, Amanda Costinett, Dylan Costinett, Lauren Udabe, John Udabe, Olivia Udabe; and his sister Margarita Orozco.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at Crippen Mortuary, 2900 Honolulu Ave. in La Crescenta on Thursday, May 1 at 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the local public library or PBS station.
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