DOUGLAS GIBSON

DOUGLAS BANCROFT GIBSON  (Age 85)  
Died on February 1, 2021, at his home in Houston, TX.
Doug was born at home in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ and grew up in Hamden, CT. A 1953 graduate of Hamden High School, he was a member of the swim team, yearbook staff, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He received a Congressional Appointment from Connecticut and entered the United States Naval Academy, graduating with the Class of 1957 as a member of the 2nd Company.
Doug served 20 years in the US Navy and earned his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. As Docking Officer in Long Beach Naval Shipyard, he supervised the QUEEN MARY's final docking prior to her conversion to a hotel, landmark and entertainment venue for the city of Long Beach, CA. A tour of duty, as Boiler Inspector with the Board of Inspection and Survey, brought him to the DMV in 1969 and was followed by multiple assignments in Naval Sea Systems Command. After his retirement in 1977, he worked for several Engineering Management Consulting firms in Crystal City, Arlington, retiring again in 1996.
Doug was a tirelessly devoted and loving family man. In the thankless spirit of parenthood, he gamely braved a gamut of unenviable duties through the 1970's and 80's as PTA President, soccer coach, halloween costume designer, and volunteer youth acolyte leader. He was always prepared with a clean handkerchief and never turned down a dish of vanilla ice cream. There was nothing Doug couldn't grill, iron or scrub clean! After 30 years in the DMV, he and his wife relocated first to Florida, and eventually settled in Houston, TX. Following his second retirement, he and Abbie criss-crossed Europe and the US by plane, cruise ship, tour bus, and car, befriending like-minded travelers and participating in many rousing games of "couples bridge' along the way.
Doug is survived by his wife of 55 years, Abbie; a brother, Ronald B. (Judy); two daughters, Jennifer A. Gibson (Chris Agharabi); and Jill D. Shokery (Raouf); three grandchildren, Ava Agharabi, Andrea Hayes (Robert) and Adam Shokery; and two great-grandchildren, Ramsey and Daphne Hayes.
Memorial services will be held at a future date and inurnment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery with appropriate military honors.