GASPER RAYA

1924 - 2023

GASPER GASTELUM RAYA

Dec. 10, 1924 Nov. 17, 2023

Gasper Gastelum Raya peacefully passed away on November 17, 2023 at the home of his son, Gasper Louie Raya in El Dorado Hills, CA. He was born on December 10, 1924, in the outskirts of Holtville, CA, to parents Zenon and Angela Raya. He was the youngest of five children: brothers Joe and Charlie Casillas; and sisters, Lupe Berumen and Bertha Flores. His parents and three of the older kids, Joe, Charlie, and Lupe came to the United States in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution around 1920. Gasper was raised in Brawley and East Los Angeles and at a young age assisted in the care of his nieces and nephew who had come to live with his family. He loved playing baseball, football, and basketball as a youngster and excelled at playing marbles. He often spoke of the huge number of cans filled with marbles he won in contests against other boys. Unfortunately, his nephew lost all of those marbles playing without permission.

During World War II, he volunteered for service at the age of 17. He did bootcamp at the Marine Base in San Diego, CA. After bootcamp, he went to Camp Elliott in Escondido, CA, where he was trained on the 30-caliber machine gun and was rated expert. Before deploying to the Pacific theater, he was reassigned as a crewman to the first ever Marine Corp 90-millimeter anti-aircraft battalion stationed on Tinian Island, specifically assembled to protect the B-29s returning from bombing missions of Japan. He saw a lot of action, such as anti-aircraft fire, rifle fire, and hand-to-hand combat. In the final days of the war, a plan was drawn up by the US to invade Japan by initially launching six waves of Marine units. The first two waves, which were critical to establishing a beach-head for the remaining waves, were expected to have 100% casualties. Gasper was going to be in the first wave. However, history took a different turn, and the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan ended the war. Those same bombs were dropped by B-29s stationed on Tinian Island, the same B-29s that Gaspers unit was protecting. The war had a lasting impact on him. He often called it a terrible and horrific experience, but he also understood why we had to fight it. He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 60, Brawley, CA and an annual member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9305, Imperial, CA. He was proud to have been a member of the United States Marine Corps and a combat veteran of World War II.

On July 17, 1948, he married the love of his life, Frances Duarte, at Sacred Heart Church, and they enjoyed more than 72 years together. He often told his children that their mother was the most beautiful person he had ever known. She passed away on December 8, 2020. This union produced four boys who were all raised in Brawley. For nearly forty years, he took care of his family by working at Holly Sugar as a laborer and later as a foreman. Education was very important to him. Although he was only able to go as far as the eighth grade, he along with his wife inspired their sons to go to college, which they did. He was raised a Catholic and prayed often. He had a kind heart and always put the health and welfare of others before his own. He felt a deep compassion for those less fortunate. He especially felt for immigrants because of his parents struggles coming to the US and establishing roots despite the discrimination they faced.

He loved dove hunting and watching professional baseball, especially the San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Above all, he loved his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren unconditionally.

Gasper was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Frances D. Raya and their sons, Robert D. Raya and Marine Corps veteran, David D. Raya; parents, Zenon and Angela Raya; sisters, Lupe Berumen and Bertha Flores; and brothers, Joe Casillas and Charlie Casillas.

Gasper and Frances are survived by son and daughter-in-law, Gasper and Leasa Raya of El Dorado Hills, CA; son, Frank D. Raya of Brawley and daughter-in-law, Candy Raya of La Jolla, CA. He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren, Jason and his wife, Samantha, Justin, Kathryn, and Robert Raya; and great-grandsons, Jordan Raya and Judah Raya; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins scattered throughout the US.

The Raya family wants to thank his caregivers from the American River Hospice and Companion Care organizations who cared for him and made it possible for him to stay at home during this past year. Thanks also to the nurses and doctors at Mercy Hospital in Folsom, CA, who cared for him while he was hospitalized.

A mass will be held at 9 am on January 13, 2024, at Sacred Heart Church in Brawley. Burial will immediately follow at Riverview Cemetery.