Francisco “Frank” Gonzalez, 78, left this earthly plane on December 21, 2025, surrounded by his family after fighting kidney cancer. He was born July 21, 1947, in Laredo, Texas to Francisco and Manuela (Mendoza) Gonzalez and moved to Colorado in 1978. He graduated from the University of Texas-Austin and worked as a software engineer for various Department of Defense contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Kaman Sciences, and McDonnell Douglas. He was an ardent supporter of social justice and progressive politics, but his real passion was flight simulators. Since the mid-1990s, Frank often flew virtual WWII aircraft in virtual skies over England, Germany and Italy, becoming involved with like-minded “pilots” who called themselves Fantasy Flight. He also loved to travel, visiting 10 countries and most of the United States with the love of his life, Lynne Bliss, whom he married on July 24, 1993.
Lynne survives him along with his sister, Graci Howard and her husband Dr. Bob Howard of Texas; their three children: Dr. Bobby Howard, Sarah Ramia, and Dr. Jonathan Howard; his stepdaughters, Shannon Burke and Shawne Ragsdale, his step grandchildren: Erin (Niamh) Murphy, Hannah (William) Shnaper, Mercedes (Michaela) Meade, Marlayna Burke, Miranda Burke, James (Tiffany) Ragsdale, and Austin (Ashleigh) Ragsdale; and several step-great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Anna.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 East Fountain Blvd, Colorado Springs. Memorials in Frank’s name may be made to Pikes Peak Hospice, 2550 Tenderfoot Hill Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80906.