Joseph A. Gibbs

Joseph A. Gibbs

Suffolk - LTC Joseph A. Gibbs U.S. Army (Ret), 74, passed away on October 17, 2016. A veteran of Vietnam where he earned several medals including the Bronze Star, Joe's Army career that began with the Cuban Missile Crisis when he joined his Dad who was a Commanding Officer at Fort Polk, LA. He was also a proud member of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment known as the Blackhorse Regiment.

A Texas native and longtime Cowboys fan, Joe explored the many parks, rivers, and lakes of his adopted state. As a VA state park camp host, he spent many enjoyable hours camping and boating with family and friends. He expressed his faith as a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. As a graduate of Shippensburg University, he held a bachelors and masters degree in Public Administration.

The son of Colonel J.W. Gibbs and Bess Allen Gibbs, he was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Stephanie Ann Gibbs Freel, sister Annyce Roberts Chertorisky, brother-in-law Russell Williams and nephew John Williams.

He will live on in the hearts and memories of his wife of 53 years, Mary Susan Gibbs, son Joseph Stephen Gibbs and Patricia Dhanvada, sister Katherine Lamoreaux, sister-in-law Ann Williams, niece Lynn Williams Aster, son-in-law Eric Freel and grandchildren Zachary Joseph, Joshua Stephen, Rachel Pauline, and Emily Preeti.

A celebration of Joe's life will held at 1:30 PM, Monday, October 24, 2016 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church 213 N Main St, Suffolk with Rev. Keith Emmerson officiating. Burial will be at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, October 23, 2016 from 5-7 PM at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in his honor and memory to Virginia Association for Parks, P.O. Box 2633, Fairfax, VA 22031 or to a charity of choice. Condolences may be offered at www.RWBakerFH.com.