Terry Gibson

Terry L. Gibson NORTON, Va. Terry L. Gibson, 68, died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, in Lonesome Pine Hospital. He was a 1960 graduate of J.J. Kelly High School and attended the Richmond Professional Institute. Terry was a former managing editor and assistant to the editor with the Coalfield Progress and authored the column, "At Random." After leaving the Coalfield Progress, Terry became the town manager with the Town of Coeburn from 1976 until his retirement in 2006. He was a member of the Virginia Municipal League and a member of the Virginia Local Government Management Association, where he served on the executive committee. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Norton, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and R.A. leader. He was a member of the Norton Kiwanis Club and past president of the Wise County Chamber of Commerce. He was a Kentucky Colonel. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lois Gibson; a brother, Mitchell Gibson; and a daughter, Michelle Lynn Sturgis. Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Barbara Stapleton Gibson, Norton; daughter and son-in-law, Wendi and Curt Richert, Greensburg, Pa.; two grandchildren, Camden and Benjamin Richert, Greensburg; son-in-law, Brian Sturgis, Kissimmee, Fla.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sandra and Ronald Happel, Midlothian, Va., Dianne and Bill Miles, Chesterfield, Va.; mother-in-law, Vivian Stapleton, Norton; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6-9 pm. Tuesday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Norton, with Rev. John Ellington officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 499, Norton, VA 24273. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com