Rev. Gilbert “Gil” Moore ….

Rev. Gilbert “Gil” Moore

1927-2024

Rev. Gilbert C. Moore, 96, joined the Church Triumphant on Aug. 19, 2024. He was surrounded by his children, son-inlaw, grandchildren, and two close pastor friends.

Gil was born at Seaside Hospital in Long Beach, California, and was the eldest of three sons of Mahlon and Dorothy (Kincaid) Moore. He was raised near 91st and Wall Streets in Los Angeles, where his grandfather operated a truck farm. After graduating from Fremont High School in 1945, he joined the Army Air Corps and soon achieved the rank of corporal. One evening while he was on the top bunk overlooking his buddies playing poker on the floor, he heard—clear as a bell—the message, “You are going to be a pastor.” In his later years, Gil would tell this story and remind us to be quiet and listen because “you never quite know when God will come calling.”

Gil attended Concordia College in Oakland and completed his seminary education at St. Louis Concordia Seminary in 1953. At a Walther League gathering while in seminary, Gil met his wife, Lavona Bokelman. They were married in 1952 at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia, Missouri (Lavona’s hometown). He liked to joke that their eldest daughter, Chris, was born in time to attend his own graduation from seminary. Soon after, Mahlon, Dorothy and Lisa joined the family.

Gil’s first call to southern Idaho was as a vocational pastor to Calvary Lutheran Church in Gooding, Idaho, and Christ Lutheran Church in Wendell, Idaho. After three years he was called to be the founding pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Des Moines (Seattle), Washington. Nine years later, in 1965, he took a call to Messiah Lutheran Church in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. In 1966, he was then called to Eagle Rock Lutheran Church in northeast Los Angeles, a location that allowed him to be closer to his widowed mother.

In the early 1970s, and while serving Eagle Rock Lutheran Church, Gil volunteered as the chaplain at Solheim Lutheran Home in Eagle Rock, California. His vocational journey took a new direction as he obtained his masters degree and a skilled nursing home administrator’s license and later joined Solheim as its full-time administrator. From there, he joined California Lutheran Homes and served Southland Lutheran Home in Norwalk and later The Alhambra Home in Alhambra. After retiring from California Lutheran Homes, he put on his independent subcontractor hat and filled the interim administrator positions at 15 church-related retirement communities throughout the state of California.

Gil and Lavona moved to Leisure World in 1988, and Gil became “interim” pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church of Leisure World in 2003. He formally retired from Redeemer at the age of 91 in April 2019. When Lavona passed away in 2022, Gil continued to live independently in Leisure World until early this year he began enjoying the assisted living community of Rowntree Gardens in Stanton, California. He especially loved watching Dodgers and Angels games, eating out at local restaurants and visits from family and friends.

Gil was highly admired and deeply loved by the churches and communities he served and was their caring and devoted pastor and administrator. His family will always remember him as someone who was kind, patient, and rarely without a smile on his face.

Gil is preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife, Lavona; eldest daughter, Chris; parents, Mahlon and Dorothy; brothers Brian and Michael and their wives Helen and Betty.

He is survived by his children Mahlon (Nongyow), Dorothy, and Lisa (Delbert); grandsons Aaron, Peter (Ashley), and Geoffrey; granddaughter Jennifer (Mike) and great granddaughters Mallory and Alyssa; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to honor Gil is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14, at 10 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Leisure World. In keeping with the Moore tradition of celebration, please feel free to wear your favorite Aloha shirts and Hawaiian garb. A light luncheon reception follows the service.

A private interment will be held later in the day at Forest Lawn Cypress. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Redeemer Lutheran Church Leisure World or to a charity you hold close to your heart.