Charles V. "Tom" Gibbs

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University of Washington

Charles Gibbs Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Charles V. "Tom" Gibbs
Start: 2019-07-27T20:00:00.000Z
Location: Skyline Retirement Community

Charles V. "Tom" Gibbs

Charles V. "Tom Gibbs", a longtime resident of the Bellevue and Seattle area, passed away after a brief battle with cancer on June 19, 2019. Tom was born in Gresham, Oregon to Laurel C. Gibbs and Margaret R. Gibbs of Winlock, Washington.

Tom attended the University of Washington and graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1954 and added an MS in CE in 1966.

He achieved far reaching impacts from his successful Civil Engineering career and made many voluntary contributions to the community where he lived. His work for a sustainable environment nationally and in two major cities was of historic importance to the clean water movement. His commitment to public transportation, healthy forests, the building of communities and his love of baseball have left valuable and durable benefits for the residents of the Seattle and Milwaukee metropolitan areas.

In 2005 Tom and his wife, Jean, endowed the "Charles V. 'Tom' and Jean C. Gibbs Presidential Fellowship in Environmental Engineering" at the University of Washington. The fellowship is designed to support graduate level studies for engineers from developing countries who will return home to help develop clean water and functioning sanitation systems for rural populations in those countries.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents Laurel C. Gibbs and Margaret R. Gibbs and brother, Robert Gibbs.

Tom is survived by his wife Jean, daughter Claudia Post, son Todd Gibbs and his wife Karen, and his sister Janet Adams.

A Celebration of Tom's Life will be held at Skyline Retirement Community, 725 9th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 on July 27, 2019 at 1:10 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests a contribution to the Mountains to Sound Greenway in his memory.

Sign Tom's online Guest Book

at www.Legacy.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times on Jul. 7, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Gibbs

Sponsored by The Family.

12 Entries

Rhonda Aronwald

July 26, 2021

One of my favorite things to do is swim in Lake Washington off of Seward Park´s East side in the summer months. On a recent swim, I remembered reading about Mr. Gibbs and his contributions to making the lake a place where I and others can swim (and enjoy clean clear water). I am immensely grateful to Mr. Gibbs and wanted to let the family know. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Rhonda

Marianna and Fiore Pignataro

August 13, 2019

Dear Jean and Family,

We were so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. We wanted to reach out to you Jean, but unfortunately we were unable to find a phone number.

Tom was a very sweet man and we enjoyed the times we spent with you (Jean) and Tom.

We are so impressed by all the things Tom accomplished in his lifetime. He most certainly made a huge difference in people's lives.

We think of both of you often and think of what Tom did/gave to the Sylvan Beach community on Vashon Island. Getting great water and under-grounding our utilities has made our lives on Sylvan Beach that much better thanks to Tom.

We wish we could have attended the celebration of Tom's life, but we were out of town on that day.

We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. Jean, hope our paths might cross sometime in the future.

Take care. With love and hugs.

Julie Fraser

July 29, 2019

Tom was my friend. A mentor, inspiration and simply a wonderful human being. I will miss him.

I received such joy watching how he celebrated his love for Jean.

During my tenure at Skyline I would often see him leave the building only to return within 30 minutes with a Starbucks's delight for his beauty.

Tom and Jean had the kind of friendship within their union one dreams about when contemplating marriage or re-marriage. The loveliest couple ever!

They buoyed those around them whom they regarded with esteem, loved their city(s), knowledge, conservation, innovation and their family and friends.

Tom lived such a noble and interesting life and I am so grateful to have called him my friend.

My love and warm wishes to Jean and his family. I am so sorry for your loss. I am so sorry for this communities loss.

Stephanie Abe

July 26, 2019

Having worked for Tom as part of his administrative team at CH2M Hill, I saw first-hand the work ethic, focus, and drive in managing very diverse activities and people. He took on challenges, motivated us to do our best, always expressed his appreciation, and instilled the concept of doing the right thing.
His was a life well-lived and I feel privileged to have known this honorable person.

Laurie Ervin

July 16, 2019

Tom, our dear friend, we miss your warm embrace and always smiling face. We miss your wise words and counsel. We miss your optimism, enthusiasm for life and sense of adventure. We miss your big heart and generosity. We miss shared baseball games, golf, movies, world travel, card games and Starbucks mochas.

An Eskimo Legend claims that Perhaps they are not stars but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones shines down to let us know they are happy. We are embracing this thought and will think of you every night as we watch the stars twinkling above.

Rest in peace, dear friend, our journey has not ended. You have just gone ahead and we know our paths will meet again one day. Until then, thank you for many cherished memories of wonderful times and adventures taken together. You have been even more than a dear friend, but also share that special place in our hearts that is held for family.

We love and miss you and will hold your memory in our hearts forever,
Laurie and Jim

Ed Koetje

July 15, 2019

I had the pleasure to follow Tom one year later thru the UW Civil Engineering program and get reacquainted working on a class reunion 50 years later. He was very gracious and helpful and will be sorely missed.

July 10, 2019

I had the good fortune to work for Tom as a Division Manager in CH2M Hill's Seattle. Wonderful individual to work for, great listener, excellent mentor, and granted a lot of forgiveness after the fact for perhaps questionable decisions I made.

Tom leaves a remarkable legacy, not only as an icon at CH2M, but in has many civic leadership and philanthropic activities in King County, Seattle, Bellevue, Milwaukee,and the University of Washington of having make a positive difference and better world on his departure.

It was a privilege to have Tom be an important role model in my professional life as well as a valued friend.

John Lee

Bill, aged 94, sharpening a knife with his usual percision and attention to detail

Rea Katz

July 8, 2019

I was so happy to reconnect with Tom and Jean last year, as our parents, Estelle & Bill Katz, were good friends both in Milwaukee and at a distance when the Gibbs moved back to the Northwest. My brothers, Aaron & David, have captured my own feelings (see their posts below). May Tom's memory be a blessing for his family,

Aaron Katz

July 7, 2019

I'm sad for this loss, so soon after Tom's friends - my parents - both left us last year. Tom - and Jean - was a good friend of theirs, sharing some great adventures as well as some tough episodes when my Dad and Tom worked together in Milwaukee. Tom was so gracious at the Shiva for my Dad last year, and I had a great time with him and Jean at a Mariners game, got to learn a little more about them as we hung out (and, of course, watched his beloved team lose again!). I hope to attend the celebration of Tom, but in any case, my thoughts are with the Gibbs'.

David Katz

July 7, 2019

Our hearts are with you in this moment. Our father Bill Katz esteemed his professional relationship as an engineer with Tom. Dad and our mother Estelle highly valued their long-term friendship over 40 years.

John Cox

July 7, 2019

I congratulate Tom for being a great man and thank him for being my friend. May his memory be Eternal!

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