As I have expressed to some and most recently at my Retirement party, that Gonz has always been to us, as one of our family and even as a son to us. He has shown all of us, the Baty, Salveron, and Deita families, special love and warmth that we can only experience as generated from those who have joined the ranks of God's family. There has always been a special bond, as I am sure that many of you all have experienced, too. Gonz never hesitated to extend the warmth of his love to everyone, with whom he has come into contact and Mely and I are not among the least of these.
Gonz has been a special brother and friend to our family, dating back to our first meeting with him on Thanksgiving, when Paul was a young student at Berkeley. Paul brought Gonz and his friend to our home in Monrovia, CA in his 3rd month of college. Since that time he has attended numerous family celebrations and parties even though the distance is so great. I will always remember his cordial and loving smile, that tends to bring you right into the presence of Jesus, as Gonz was always emulating a Christ-like love for all his fellow brothers and sisters-in-Christ, without respect for status or position in our society. Gonz was high society for sure, but you would never know it by his cordial nature. I can only think that God must have wanted Gonz to be with Him and couldn't wait another day.
God has His reasons for taking one like Gonz so early in his life and His reasons are always perfect. But, this will not diminish or take away our feeling of loss and sorrow, today. We must say only that it was a blessing from God to have allowed Gonz into our fellowship over these past years, even if only for the limited time it was. May each of us use this time to reflect on our own personal relationship with our Christian families and associations and realize the mortality we all share. We never know when our time will come and we must live as if every day will be our last one on this Earth. God is good and He has been especially good to Gonz and to us for having allowed him into our lives. May all the friends of Gonz be comforted today, as we place our steadfast hope and love in Jesus, extending Christ's love to all with whom we come into contact daily. I know that Gonz would want this for us. It is what we are here for, after all. I can hear Gonz in my mind's eye saying, "Go for it!" That's what he would do, 'encourage his friends' and pray for the best for us. God bless you all!
With much love and very fond memories, at this time of our great sorrow and loss,
Don and Mely Baty
Desert Hot Springs, CA
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