Gladys Cardenas

October 28, 1926 - April 20, 2022

SAN DIEGO, CA — Gladys Cardenas, age 95, left us on April 20, following her loving husband who passed away 41 days prior at the same time of day. She was surrounded by her children and grandchildren in her final days sharing beautiful memories of a wonderful life.

She was born to the late Howard and Martha Gisewite on October 28, 1926 on a small farm in Brookville, Ohio. She was one of youngest of nine children who learned practical experience and sense of responsibility during the depression that proved invaluable throughout her life. Yes, she did have to walk a good distance to go to school even in the winter snow. We verified that in a recent trip back to her childhood farm with family.

Gladys graduated from Brookville High School in 1943 and worked as a secretary in nearby Dayton, Ohio. It was during a double date with her sister at the YMCA that she met her late husband of 74 years, Robert “Bob” Cardenas. Bob was a Captain in the US Army Air Corps stationed at Wright Field outside Dayton.

Gladys left Ohio with Bob and headed to Muroc Field in the high desert north of Los Angeles, where he was part of a team of elite test pilots. They were married in the St. Joan of Arc Church in Las Vegas and started their lifelong adventure around the world together. But the journey was not always glamorous for Gladys. In fact, it started at the Wagon Wheel ranch with no electricity, no neighbors, and 30 miles away from the Muroc Field with no car during the day. As always, she made the best of it to make it their home.

Over the next 25 years Bob’s Air Force career

took them across the globe from California to New Mexico, Okinawa, Washington DC, Florida, Kansas, Spain, Belgium and Nebraska while his responsibilities and rank grew to Brigadier General. Gladys was always by his side, out of the spotlight but ever supportive of him, while raising a growing family of seven children and making each new house a home.

She was also active in the Officer Wives Club raising money for charity, holding special holiday events, and providing comforting kinship to wives whose husbands were at times in the heat of battle. Many years later she rekindled her spirit of giving as an active member of the Social Services Auxiliary of San Diego where she often hosted the annual Christmas party in her beautifully decorated home with her unique personal touch. Along the way she reached out to so many and was known as a vivacious, energetic and organized wife, mother, and friend.

Gladys enjoyed crafts, holiday decorating, and gardening. After Bob retired from the Air Force and moved to San Diego, she turned an empty dirt backyard into a beautiful and relaxing retreat that she diligently worked in for almost 40 years. If you could not find her in the house when you visited you knew to go find her out back (sometimes in the “back 40”) cleaning out weeds, planting, or skirmishing with squirrels. No matter if she was tired or struggling with health issues, she always was happy to see you and had a smile and interest in what was going on in your life. She was truly the heart and soul of the Cardenas clan and will be missed by all of us.

Gladys is survived by five of her seven children – Robin, Debra, Michael, Mark and Maria and 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who were the sunshine of her life. She was predeceased by her loving husband this year and two children – Rick in 1978 and Diana in 2015. Gladys has two surviving sisters, Kate and Ruby.

There will be a memorial service on the 26th of May at 11:00 AM at St. Therese Church in San Diego followed by a Celebration of Life event. A private family burial will be conducted at a later date at Miramar National Cemetery where she will be put to rest with her beloved husband, Bob.

The family request donations to the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation in lieu of flowers.

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