Robert C. Gibson

Robert C. Gibson, PE FNSPE, died peacefully on February 20, 2025, surrounded by his family in Blacksburg, VA. Born in Norfolk on November 6, 1937, he was the son of Nellie Gray Godfrey and James Erwin Gibson. He was predeceased by his parents, and his sister Nancy Spater. He is survived by his sister Joan Lippold, brother William Gibson, daughters Anne Lawson and Katherine Gibson, and their mother Sue Gibson Farrar, Ashley Zehrt and Hayley Owens and their mother Joan Zehrt, stepchildren, Jamie Meriwether, William Meriwether and Missy Dulin as well as two grandsons, Franklin Lawson and Kevin Lawson and a great granddaughter Madison Lawson.
Bob grew up in Norfolk and was an overachiever all his life. In 1954, the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce bestowed upon him the Outstanding Teenager Tidewater Award. He graduated from Granby High School in 1953. He attended Virginia Tech where he was Corp Commander, served as Judge of the Honor Court and graduated in 1961 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Bob went into the Army in 1961 and served his country for eight years, including the Army Reserves. He joined Clark Nexsen, an architectural engineering firm that under his leadership grew to be ranked in the top 20 A/E firms in the U.S., became partner in 1979 and was named Virginia Engineer of the Year the same year. In 1985 he was promoted to President, CEO and Chairman of the Board. Other honors included being named as a Fellow by the Institute of Engineers in Ireland in 1989, received the Member of the Year Award by the National Institute of Building Sciences in 1998, was named as an Eminent Engineer Member of Tau Beta Pi and named as a member of the Steinman Council, N.S.P.E. Education Foundation, both in 1987. Bob served as Chairman of the N.S.P.E. Council until 2003. Citing a few additional highlights, he was President of the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers, President of the National Society of Professional Engineers from 1988-89 and Chairman of the National Institute of Building Sciences from 1991-93.
Bob moved to Blacksburg in 2008, where he was President of the Kiwanis Club whose mission is serving children of the world, one child, one community at a time. His distinguished service to Virginia Tech included serving on the Committee of 100 for the College of Engineering beginning in 1978, and the Industrial Advisory Group for Minority Engineering Programs. He also served on the Virginia Tech Scholarship Committee and on the Engineering Dean's Advisory Board. He was a member of the Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering Excellence, Virginia Tech UT Prosim Society, Virginia Tech Society of Mechanical Engineers, Torch Club, Blacksburg Christian Church and host of Wood's Edge happy hours. A life well lived.
A celebration of Bob's life will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11am at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Dr. SW, Blacksburg, VA. The family will welcome friends from 10am – 11am and a private service will be held after the celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make memorial contributions may send them to Blacksburg Kiwanis, PO Box 620, Blacksburg, VA 24063 or Blacksburg Christan Church, 240 Watson Ave., Blacksburg, VA 24060.