William Edwin Gibbons M.D.

GIBBONS, M.D.,, WILLIAM EDWIN Born January 5, 1927 in Dallas, Texas to Olin Welborn and Marguerite (Elms) Gibbons, passed away peacefully on Monday evening, December 18th, 2006 at St. Paul University Hospital, an institution he loved dearly and served faithfully for more than four decades. Preceded in death by his parents Marguerite Elms Gibbons and Dr. Olin W. Gibbons, brother Dr. Olin Gibbons, Bill's late wife of 28 years, Jane Obst Gibbons, and cousin Dr. Raymond Thomasson. Survived by his wife, Linda Harris Gibbons, daughter Molly Norwood and husband David and daughter Alysha, brother Dr. Robert Gibbons and wife Ann, sister Sally Gibbons Bowen and husband Ray, sister-in-law Betty Gibbons and numerous nieces and nephews; children of his wife Linda, Tom and Laura McElroy, Andrew and Laura McElroy, Leslie and Douglas Hoy, Elizabeth McElroy, and 10 grandchildren. His wife, Linda, said of him, "He was the kindest, most gentle man I have ever known and his warm contagious smile and thoughtful presence will be remembered by all who knew him." His friend Tom Kindred described him as "the dearest friend any one could possibly have--who cared deeply about others. He was such a genuine and compassionate man." Bill Gibbons graduated from Highland Park High School where he served as President of his Senior Class and starred as a right half back in 1943 when they went to the State Quarter finals. Webb Sowden commented, "Swivel Hips" Gibbons, who played ahead of Doak Walker at Highland Park High School, had many wonderful stories about his football days and the Silver Hair Supper Club. At the end of the day his warm and caring personality are the big winners. Known for his one liners and dry wit Bill would respond when the story was told about Doak Walker being his back up, "You know I knew that Doak always had promise." He and his daughter Molly were huge Cowboy fans and attended Cowboy games occupying the seats the family had since the Cowboy's first season at the Cotton Bowl. He entered S.M.U. as a pre-med student and was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Dr. Gibbons graduated from Southwestern Medical School. He entered his Surgery Residency at St. Louis University under Chief C. Rollins Hanlon. Following his residency, he served on the SS McGoffin in the Korean Conflict and was stationed in San Diego. After returning from his tour of duty, Dr. Gibbons entered practice with his father, Dr. O.W. Gibbons, at what was then the Samuel Clinic in the old Medical Arts Building in downtown Dallas. Deeply committed to his work as a surgeon, he was concerned only with the care and healing of his patients. Dr. Pat Jenevein said of his colleague and close friend, "a skilled surgeon, a very effective chief of surgery, extremely supportive of education, and the residents respected and loved him greatly." Dr. Gibbons served as President of the St. Paul Medical Staff in 1975 and also as President of the Dallas Society of General Surgeons. He and his brother together, following the dissolution of the Samuel Clinic, formed a private practice in Surgery and continued to serve on the staff of St. Paul Hospital until 1995. He always looked forward to the Olin W. Gibbons lectures, each spring which his mother established to honor his father's memory. Among the guest lecturers, attended by medical students and practicing surgeons, were Dr. Tom Shires, Jr. Dr. Malcolm Perry, Dr. Claude Organ and Dr. Michael DeBakey. Bill enjoyed memberships in the American College of Surgeons, Dallas Society of Surgeons, Dallas County Medical Society, TMA, Dallas Country Club and Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Dr. Brian Baldwin, Dr. Steves Ring, and Dr. John Webb for their loving care and concern over the past several years as well as to caregivers and friends, Zimam Dawit, John Greer, Becky David, Mary Lloyd, and the wonderful staff at the Friends Place. A rosary will be prayed at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday at Sparkman/Hillcrest Northwest Hwy. Chapel, Deacon Don Forbrich, officiating. A Memorial Mass will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Father Jack Cawley, celebrant. Private interment Calvary Hill Cemetery. Honorary Pallbearers are Leo Corrigan, Jr., Douglas Hoy, Thomas W. Kindred, B. Thomas McElroy, Jr., Andrew McElroy, Dr. Pat Jenevein, Henry Neuhoff, David Norwood, Neil O'Brien, Robert Rozelle, Webb Sowden, Jr. and the doctors and staff at St. Paul Hospital with whom he worked for over four decades. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Paul Medical Foundation, Southwestern Medical Foundation (designated for Alzheimer Research under the direction of Myron Weiner), St. Vincent Center at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, or Meadows School of the Arts, at Southern Methodist University. Dignity Memorial Sparkman Hillcrest 7405 W. Northwest Hwy. Dallas (214) 363-5401

OB6 Obituaries, Notices