David Ghilino

David Leon Ghilino, 92, passed away peacefully in his Harlingen Texas home on January 26, 2021.  He was born in West Mineral, Kansas, on February 5, 1928.  He was the only child of David Ghilino and Philomena Ghilino of Cherokee, Kansas.  David grew up in extreme poverty during the great depression and was then drafted into the Army to serve at the end of WW2.  After returning from overseas, he married his hometown love Henrietta Irene Mason on April 23, 1949.  Henrietta passed away on January 4, 2008.  David is survived by his four children: Janet Bates and husband Michael of Newton, Kansas; Sandie Ghilino and wife Imelda; Paul Ghilino; Regina Ghilino of Johnson County, Kansas; 13 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.

David and Henrietta moved to Kansas City to make a new life together.  David started out as a bricklayer.  He was always a sharp, ambitious, and hardworking man so it was not long before he started his own masonry business.  He was successful in that business and then invested into multiple other businesses that were also successful.

David was an avid hunter for big game and small.  Henrietta and David enjoyed playing golf and cards with friends at the Quivira Lake Country Club.  Many club members went South to Texas for the winter.  David and Henrietta joined them.  Eventually they decided to move there permanently and settled in near the Harlingen Country Club.

A private family funeral service for David will be held on his 93rd birthday on February 5, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66210.

David has requested that any memorial donations be made to Loaves & Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley.  Their website is www.lfrgv.org.