Alton "Al" G. Gamble

Alton Gayle (Al) Gamble, 75, of Manhattan, passed away Saturday, December 14th, at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, KS.   Al was born in Rochester, PA on January 29, 1944, the son of the late Helen Mae (DeYoung) and Alton Clair Gamble. He grew up in Beaver Falls, PA and graduated from High School there in 1961, later he attended UCLA for 2 years.  He entered the U.S. Army on January 18, 1965, in Los Angeles, California and was discharged January 19, 1968, at Ft. Riley as a Sgt- E-5, serving during the Vietnam War.   On January 24, 1968, at the Fort Riley Catholic Chapel, he was married to Virginia Susan Escobar and she preceded him in death on May 12, 2012.   Shortly after their wedding, they moved to California to start a family. After retirement, they moved back to Manhattan in 1998. He and Virginia attended Seven Dolors Catholic Church, Manhattan. He was employed for security for TRW Inc., a major American industrial corporation providing advanced-technology products and services primarily in the automotive, defense, and aerospace sectors, for 20 years from 1969-1998.   He worked at the Manhattan airport in Operations for about 7 years. He was employed by Three Rivers Health Care, taking care of his wife, Virginia. His hobbies were, working on older cars, drag racing, playing the guitar, which he played in some clubs in California and made some music recordings.  He also enjoyed coaching his sons in football. One of his greatest enjoyments was spending time with his family, watching his NASCAR and enjoying a good cup of coffee. Survivors include two sons, Todd Gamble and his wife Cindy, of Manhattan; Ryan Gamble and his wife, Natalie; he is also survived by his three grandchildren, Kayla, Ayanna, and Roman Gamble.  Al was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, parents and his sister Debby Gamble. A funeral service will be held at the Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and Cremation on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, at 10:00 am with Fr. Kerry Ninemire officiating. Burial will be at the Sunrise Cemetery with a rendering of honors by the Ft. Riley Honor Guard. The family requests any donations be directed to the Heart & Stroke Research with the American Heart Association. For more information or to send an online condolence visit the funeral home website at www.irvinparkview.com.