KENNETH WARREN GILSTRAP

Ken passed away quietly at his home on Saturday, December 10, 2011, in Clovis, California, at the age of 64. Ken was born on November 25, 1947, in Fresno, California to Frank and Caroline Gilstrap. He was a long time resident of Fresno, and a 1965 graduate of Roosevelt High School and Fresno City College. He was a truck driver for more than 35 years and drove for Yellow Freight for 25 years. Ken was a member of Fresno Teamsters Local 431. In 2005, Ken retired from Yellow Freight Lines and began fulltime enjoyment of coastal and Sierra Nevada outdoors, and watching Fresno State sports events with cousins Ray and Richard Sawatzky. Ken was a lifelong bachelor, loved a party, and was an avid and lifelong outdoors-man as he thoroughly enjoyed camping and fishing in the Sierra Nevada with family and friends. He truly cherished the close bond he had with nieces, nephews and family grandchildren and his influence will be continue to be seen in their lives. Ken was especially proud of his lifetime membership with the National Rifle Association, and took great pride in his marksmanship with his rifles and pistols. Ken's bright smile, hearty laugh, good word, and his can do approach to life will be dearly missed by his family, his many friends, and Ken's miniature pincher Cujo who was his dearest buddy and ever present companion of 15 years. Ken was preceded in death by his father, Frank E. Gilstrap; and brothers-in-law, Don Weber and Tom Palmer. He is survived by his mother, Caroline Gilstrap of Clovis; brother, Frank Gilstrap, Jr. and his wife Pat of College Station, Texas; sisters, Carilyn Weber of Fresno, Marilyn McLaughlin and her husband James of Clovis, and Debra Paul and her husband Steve of Templeton, California; and numerous nieces and nephews. A Funeral Service will be held at Thomas-Robinson Funeral Home in Selma on Friday, December 16 at 10:30 a.m., with Reverend Bill Braun officiating. Honorary pallbearers for the Selma service will be Frank Gilstrap Jr., James McLaughlin, Steve Paul, Ray Sawatzky, Richard Sawatzky, Frank Gilstrap III, Marc Weber, Michelle Weber, Stephanie Melvin, Kevin Paul, Kim Paul, and Danny Conlin, Mike Laplaca. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ken's name may be made to the National Rifle Association, or donating blood and platelets to your local blood bank in Ken's name.