William S. Gibbons Jr.

William S. Gibbons, Jr.

Bloomington, IN

William S. Gibbons, Jr. 45, passed away on Friday, October 9, 2015.

He was born in Goldsboro, NC and was Vice President of Engineering at Cook Medical in Bloomington, IN. Bill was married to Emily Bell Gibbons, also born in Goldsboro, NC and had two children, 15-year-old twins Will and Abbey. His family was his life and everything he did was in support of them.

Bill was the consummate professional as he moved through the ranks at Cook Medical, starting as a Development Engineer and President of Endoscopy in the Winston-Salem office. In 2009 Cook moved Bill and his family to the Bloomington headquarters, where he was named to his current role of VP of Engineering. Bill was a quiet executive, leading by example. His group included over 350 employees in eight locations around the world.

Bill also led by example in his academic life, graduating Magna Cum Laude from North Carolina State University with a degree in aerospace engineering which he used to launch his career. Never satisfied with his learning, Bill received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of North Carolina and has been party to multiple patents.

It has been said that Bill never saw his work as the tools and devices, but as the people for whom the devices were created. No matter the topic or the question, it always came back to the patient. His colleagues and employees felt this in his every-day life and he leaves enormous shoes to fill at Cook.

In addition to his family, which was always his greatest joy, and his work, which allowed him to use his knowledge to make this world a better place, Bill loved to fly. He traveled the world for his work and it was through this, and his early interest in aerospace engineering, that led him to get his private pilot's license. He loved being in the sky over southern Indiana on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, he loved being able to jump down to North Carolina to see friends and family at a moment's notice, and he loved taking his family on little get-aways or to watch their beloved NC State Wolfpack play ball.

Bill will be greatly missed by his many friends and co-workers and is survived by his wife, Emily and his son Will, both of Bloomington, his mother, Mary Jane Holtoner of Goldsboro, NC, his father, Stewart Gibbons (Jane) of Tampa, FL, his parents-in-law, Sandra and Robert Bell of Goldsboro, his brother-in-law, Jeffery Bell (Reagan), and nephews, Finnegan and Teague. Bill was proceeded in death by his grandparents, Colonel William and Paula Gibbons of Macon, GA, and General J. Stanley and Mary Jane Holtoner of New York, NY.

Bill was on a father-daughter trip with his daughter, Abbey, doing what they loved – riding roller coasters and flying – and he will be laid to rest alongside her in North Carolina. Services will be held in Goldsboro, NC at 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the First Christian Church of Goldsboro, 1609 E. Ash Street, with visitation from 1:00-3:00.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the North Carolina State University Bill Gibbons Scholarship Fund (www.go.ncsu.edu/engineering-giving. Select "other" and write in Bill Gibbons Scholarship Fund), READWS (St. Paul Episcopal Church, 520 Summit St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101), or Water for Children Africa (www.waterforchildrenafrica.org).

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuner alhome.org