Gilbert Francis Choppin passed away peacefully on November 28, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Choppin was born on November 20, 1939 in New Orleans, Louisiana where his father Gilbert Peter Choppin worked as a bookkeeper for a number of companies and, ultimately, as an insurance manager for the City of New Orleans. Gil was raised in New Orleans, the hometown of his father. His mother, Nellie Marie Choppin (maiden name Guidroz), was born in Carencro, Louisiana. His parents originally met in Eagle Lake, TX but soon relocated and raised their family in New Orleans in the areas of City Park and Lakeview.

After graduating from Saint Aloysius High School in 1958, he earned a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in English and Journalism from the Communications College at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL)– home of the Rajun’ Cajuns. While at USL he perfected his love of journalism and writing as chief editor of the school newspaper, The Vermillion, for two years and was a member of the Epsilon-Chi chapter of Kappa Sigma. It was at USL that he would meet Kay—who would soon become his college sweetheart and later his bride.

Deeply devoted to his family, he was preceded in death by his parents and older brother Gregory (Anne). He is survived by Linda Kay Choppin, his beloved wife of 61 years, his sons Doug (Joanne), Stephen (Jane), Mark and Matthew and his “favorite” (and only) daughter Jennifer (Timothy Daigle); his grandchildren Lauren, Tyler Daigle (Anne-Kathryn), Brooke, Kayla Daigle and Emily Kate; his brother Gerald (Joy) and both of his brother’s sons and daughters and their families.

His long career in advertising and marketing began in Lafayette, Louisiana and took him and Kay from there to Madison, Wisconsin back to New Orleans and then led him to Dallas, Texas. It was in Dallas that Gil worked as an Advertising Manager at Bloom Advertising and was introduced to the airline industry while working on Braniff Airlines, as well as a little-known startup called Southwest Airlines. From Southwest he moved on to become the Director of Marketing at Texas International Airlines (which became Continental), this became the path that eventually led him to his final home to raise his family in Houston, TX. With ever an entrepreneurial spirit at heart, he resigned from Continental and founded his own advertising agency, Vantage Marketing, in 1986. Vantage would be his last place of employment until the day he retired. At Vantage he developed marketing programs for Continental’s Presidents Club, their airport branding and wrote and produced the Continental Vacation Planner.

Gil’s true passion was always his family. He took great pride in the accomplishments of his children. He reveled in family holidays, spending time in the outdoors (both in the Colorado mountains and at their Galveston bayhouse) and welcomed with deep joy the arrival of all five of his grandchildren (and, as fate would have it, the announcement of his first-ever great grandchild just two weeks before his passing). Gil and Kay raised a special needs child, Mark, at their home until his final days and were forever devoted to caring for his needs. When not at their home Mark would spend time in the care of Hope Village in Friendswood, Texas.

Gil was also a devout catholic, having served as an altar boy in his youth. He took great pride in having never missed a mass service until illness forced him to this past year. He and Kay were founding members, and remained active members until his recent passing, of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Clear Lake City, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foundation for Hope Village, 15403 Hope Village Road, Friendswood, Texas 77546 (https://hope-village.com/donate).

Visitation will take place at Crowder Funeral Home (https://www.crowderfuneralhome.com) at 1645 East Main Street, League City, Texas 77573 on December 12, 2024 beginning at 6 pm. The following day (December 13, 2024) a Mass service will take place at St. Bernadette Catholic Church at 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, Texas 77062 at 10:30 am and will be followed by a reception in the church’s Parish Hall. Graveside services for the family will take place the following day, Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery at 7801 Gulf Freeway, Dickinson, Texas 77539 at 12:00 pm.