William L. Gabriel passed away July 5, 2022 in Orlando Florida. He was a devoted husband to his beloved, late wife Virginia Gabriel who passed away December 10, 2021. He was an adoring father to his daughter, Andrea Gabriel and son, Kurt Gabriel and a loving grandfather of his grandsons Jean-Paul Raad and Kristopher Raad, and granddaughter Christina Raad.
Len was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 1, 1936. He was raised and educated in the city and later went on to attend the University of Illinois and The University of Florida to get a degree in architecture. He then honorably joined the United States Army where he was the Engineer of Record. In 1959 while in the Army, he met his love, Virginia Ann, and they married in February of 1960.
Over the course of the next 6 decades, the late Architect made his mark in the field that he loved so much. This was not a “job” to Len, it was “Who” he truly was. He had an architectural firm in Chicago and when he moved to Florida in 1980, he joined the team of Gee & Jenson Architects in West Palm Beach, FL. Shortly after, he worked with firm of Schenkle and Shultz and specialized in the Education and Community Design Market. Len then tried to retire after 30 years as a principal of the firm, but the pull of a passion was too strong and he returned to work by purchasing DBY Building Sciences. He worked until he was 82 years old, specializing in Building Envelope Architecture and Design.
“Len” wore many names: he was “Lenny, Gabe, Dad, Daddy, Poppa, Pops, and William,” all because he was a man of many talents. He was a golf caddy in Chicago from the age of 14, where he grew to love and appreciate this game. He was an avid golfer, and if he was not on the greens, he could be found fishing, hunting, or tending his garden. Len was also a Shriner. He was a devout Christian and was always involved with his church in his younger years. He was always fervently studying the word of God and seeking a deeper knowledge of the Bible and connection to his Lord and Savior.
Of all the accomplishments Len had in his 85 years of life, his devotion to his family remains his crowning achievement. He was a devoted son to his mother and a loving husband to his wife, Ann. Their love was the root and steady base of their 61-year marriage. He was known as a man of honesty, kindness, and respect, a man that took his vows to his family and his roles as a husband, father, and grandfather very seriously.
Words fail to describe how much Len meant to his family. He was and always will be their everything. He taught them what “Unconditional Love” was, and the ultimate lesson of what honesty meant to his grandsons. He showed them by example how to love Christ and value this earth that we live on. He taught the boys to fish and golf, and how to do it well. He taught them with love and intention to guide them, without judgement, in all that they did.
As a father, Len was always there to guide his children Kurt and Andrea. He was always the dad that guided with a kind, compassionate, unjudgmental heart, just as he approached all of his life. There was never was there a time that he wouldn’t drop everything to be present if they were sick, injured, or just needed his presence.
William was preceded in death by his wife Virginia Gabriel and son Kurt Gabriel. He is survived by his daughter Andrea Gabriel and her son Jean-Paul William Raad and his wife Christina Raad, son Kristopher Kurt Raad, and ex-son-in-law Raad Raad.
Len suffered many health issues and obstacles over the last 6 years, but through it all he sought steadfastly the face of Christ and found comfort in knowing that heaven and all its beauty awaited his arrival. The family finds peace in knowing that he is with his Maker, Lord, and Savior.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…” 2 Timothy 4:7
Services will be held on at 10:00am on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church at 123 E. Livingston St. Orlando, FL 32801, with a graveside burial following at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery at 5525 US-1 Mims, FL 32754 at 1:30pm.