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Virgilio “Gil” Llanto Galicia, age 93, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2026, surrounded by family and love. He spent his final years in Raleigh, North Carolina under the care of their daughter, after nearly 50 years of calling Portland, Oregon home.

The youngest of four children, Gil was born on November 5, 1932, in Manilla, Phillippines to Glicerio and Miguela. A devoted husband, father, uncle and Papa, Gil lived a life defined by integrity, humor, and stubborn determination. He was married to the love of his life, Mercy, for 60 years, love that remained visible and powerful even in their final goodbyes. Their partnership began with a romantic proposal, a ring sewn inside a dress and shipped from the Philippines to the United States where Mercy was working as a nurse through an exchange program. They married quickly and then immigrated together, first to Canada and then Oregon where they raised their three children, Michael, Cris and Brian, and built their careers.

Gil served as a senior examiner and auditor for the State of Oregon, Department of Insurance where he spent his career holding large insurance companies accountable and protecting taxpayers. He took pride as a civil servant in advocating for those without a voice, a value that never left him, even as dementia took hold. To the very end, he was alert to injustice, concerned for “elderly people being taken advantage of,” and eager to protect others, even when it meant calling the insurance Commissioner one more time.

Gil was most proud of his three children and six grandchildren. He stressed the importance of education and that “knowledge is power” to all of them and saw their success as his legacy.

To those who knew him personally, Gil was unforgettable. He was famous for his chicken wings, his meticulously kept yard, and his belief that “to be early is to be on time.” He raised his children to be self-reliant, teaching them how to change their own oil, sharpen their lawn mower blades and do their taxes. He had a way of making people feel seen. His grandchildren, nieces and nephews, waitresses, medical staff and strangers alike were drawn to his jokes, his wisdom, and his favorite advice on love – “You need to collect, collect, and select.” Gil loved a trip to the casino and shopping for unique gifts that he was excited to get for his loved ones. He would always end every interaction with his family letting them know that he loved them, using his signature phrase: “I-4-3.”

Gil leaves behind his wife Mercy, his son Michael Galicia of The Dalles, Oregon, daughter Cris Charbonneau (son-in-law Mike “MC”) of Raleigh, North Carolina, and son Brian Galicia (daughter-in-law Lisa) of Issaquah, Washington; grandchildren Kate Mulder, Lauryn Mulder, Megan Galicia, Lucy Galicia, Mason Charbonneau, Emily Charbonneau and many extended family members and friends who will miss him dearly.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, February 13, beginning with a visitation at 12:30pm and service at 1:00pm at Renaissance Funeral Home, 7615 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615. Family and friends are welcome to a gathering with refreshments immediately after the service. The service will also be streamed on the Renaissance Funeral Home YouTube channel. Log in 10min prior to the service.

In honor of our dad’s life and his unwavering devotion, our family invites those who feel moved to do so to make a donation to the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina. He cared tirelessly for our mom through her Alzheimer’s journey, even as he later faced dementia himself. Playing a supportive caregiver role in memory care, our family witnessed firsthand how essential organizations like the Dementia Alliance are in supporting families walking this difficult path. Your gift in his memory will help other families receive the compassion, guidance, and resources that meant so much to us.