Phillip Cabrera, Jr., 73, went to be with his Lord & Savior Sept. 23, 2006, after a short illness with his wife & family by his side. He was born July 17, 1933 in Clinton, OK to Felipe & Mercedes (Acosta) Cabrera. When he was 5, his family moved to the Riverside addition in OKC where he grew up. After graduating from Capitol Hill H.S. in 1951, he began a lifelong career in Sales. He began selling bicycle parts, then insurance, and eventually operated his own business, Sooner Janitorial Supply on S. Central. He later went to work for Johnson's Wax. After a brief retirement, he went to work for his brother-in-law as a sales rep. at American Waste, Inc. He loved the challenge of his job & was frequently their top salesman. Phillip was very active in the community & was a part of the Capitol Hill Main Street since 1997, currently serving as Chairman of the Board. He belonged to the I.O.O.F Lodge #8 & worked tirelessly for the Hispanic Community. Phil & Trudy also belonged to the T-Bird Recreational Club at Lake Thunderbird. Phillip loved OU football, often teasing me (Trudy) that he 'threw in with me' for my tickets. Never missing a game in 4 years, he loved to take his sons Mike & Daniel, when he could so they too could have the OU experience. He & Daniel discussed the games at length & arm chair quarterbacked games on TV. My brother Conrad, Phillip & I traditionally met at his niece, Cindy's La Luna restaurant in Norman before each game. After kickoff, they stood the entire game high-fiving each other until the game ended. My brother said 'that every once in a while God plants someone special on this earth, a gold nugget of a man, whose warm & caring spirit permeates the world.' Phil was one of those men. He was kind, gentle & genuinely concerned for his fellow man. He set about each day to treat others like he would want to be treated. With a soft heart & voice, he taught me so much about how important it is to slow down, breathe & smell life. I talk a little quieter & walk a little slower because of Phillip. He experienced many life-altering changes, handling them with grace & dignity. He was first my friend & later my husband since 2002. It was my privilege to have shared his life for the last 4 = years. I was lucky. He was a wonderful companion to me & a solid help-mate. We enjoyed many good times & looked forward to many more. We shared extended family on each side & I thank his family for accepting me into their hearts & lives & my family expresses their love for Phillip & their sorrow that we've lost him. There are not enough words to honor a great husband, father, grandfather, brother or friend like Phillip. He was unique. He loved nature, changing seasons, beautiful sunrises, a full moon & white snow blanketing the earth. He loved the smell of a new day, spring in the air & the rumble of a gentle rain. He loved sweets with his coffee, guiso, flour tortillas & dessert after each meal. Phillip was always proper & a gentle man. I loved him. I can say with conviction that everyone who knew Phillip Cabrera was better for having known him. Phillip was preceded in death by his parents, one son Robert & one brother, Donnie. He leaves behind to celebrate his life his wife, Trudy; Sons, Daniel & Michael; Daughters, Phyllis Rodriquez, Beverly Schubert, & Angela Lerma; Step-Son, Ted Wilson; Brothers, Richard, Lewis & Robert; Sisters: Stella Stout, Virginia Engst, Marty Macias, Lois Stonebraker & Julie Franco. Phillip is survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, a host of friends, co-workers & church family to whom we give thanks for their love & prayers during his illness. Services to celebrate Phillip's life will be held 10:30 AM Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 at Shartel Church of God, 11600 S. Western. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens.
Published in The Oklahoman from 9/25/2006 - 9/26/2006.

Vondel L. Smith & Son Mortuary
South Colonial Chapel
6934 South Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73139
(405) 634-1439
E-mail: [email protected]
www.vondelsmithmortuary.com