A native of Cartago, he was the son of Ignacio and Juana Gonzales and grew up in Tracy, graduating from Tracy High School in 1950.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and received several medals, including the Purple Heart for combat wounds.
Mr. Gonzales worked 40 years as a ground-service technician for United Airlines, 25 years in San Francisco and 15 years in Portland, Ore. He lived in Tracy, San Francisco, San Jose and Forest Grove., Ore., before retiring in Yamhill.
He enjoyed working with his John Deere tractor and gardening.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mildred Gonzales of Yamhill; five daughters and sons-in-law, Jeannie and Greg Peters, Stephanie and Randal Ringsage, Lorrie Gonzales, Doreen and Paul Van De Grift and Kathy and Michael Simek, all of Oregon; and 11 grandchildren.
Also surviving are five sisters, Theresa Villasenor of Oxnard, Lucy Crow of Pomona and Jennie Ryan, Emily Ward and Molly Bell, all of Tracy.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Ignacio and Juana Gonzalez; and brother, Frank Gonzalez.
A funeral Mass was celebrated April 11 at St. John Catholic Church in Yamhill. Burial with full military honors was in Mountain View Memorial Gardens in Forest Grove, Ore.
The family prefers memorial contributions to the St. Vincent Medical Foundation, c/o Heart and Vascular Institute, 9205 S.W. Barnes Road, Portland, OR 97225, or the American Diabetes Association, Oregon and Southwest Washington, 4380 S.W. Macadam Ave., Portland, OR 97239.