James Gibbs

GIBBS, JAMES James Gendron Gibbs died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, in San Diego, Calif., age 92. Mr. Gibbs was born Jan. 15, 1912 in Charleston, S.C., the son of John Ernest Gibbs and Anne Simons Ball of Charleston and Hyde Park Plantation. He was educated at Craft School, the High School of Charleston, and Clemson University. Graduating from Clemson in 1934 with a degree in Engineering, he joined his father in the management of the Etiwan Fertilizer Company. In 1936, he married Martha Benson of Charleston, with whom he had two children; she died in 1977. In 1978, he married Nancy Gillon Saunders, of San Diego at St. Paul's Cathedral. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs lived in Charleston until 1999, when they moved to San Diego. In 1942, Mr. Gibbs volunteered for service in the US Army and was assigned to the Corps of Engineers as a First Lieutenant. After preparations in the United Kingdom, he saw action in Algeria, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria, receiving a field promotion to Captain. He returned to Charleston and to the Etiwan Fertilizer Company in 1945. As president of the company and of the Shipyard River Terminals, he managed the innovative introduction of gantry cranes to the port of Charleston. He served on the Vestry of St. Philip's Church and was a mainstay of its Men's Choir for many years. He was a member of the St. Cecilia Society, the South Carolina Society, the Agricultural Society, the South Carolina Historical Society, and the Society for the Preservation of Spirituals. He served as a Trustee of the Charleston Airport and as President of the Maritime Association. Appreciated widely for his generosity, humanity, and quiet sense of humor, he was regarded with lifelong affection by his family and friends, by his business colleagues, by farmers throughout the Low Country, and by those who had served under his command in combat across North Africa and Europe. Mr. Gibbs was predeceased by his three brothers, John Ernest Gibbs, Jr., Coming Ball Gibbs, and Charles Haskell Gibbs, all of Charleston. Survivors include his wife, Nancy; a son, James Gendron Gibbs, Jr. of New York; a daughter, Mary Caroline Gibbs of Kansas City, Missouri; stepchildren Sally Saunders, Susan Saunders, Brian Saunders, and Bruce Saunders, all of California; eight grandchildren and step grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. Burial in St. Philip's Churchyard, Charleston, SC., on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and a Memorial is planned there in the spring. The family of James Gibbs wishes to thank the nursing staff at Scripps Mercy and Sharp Cabrillo skilled nursing for their care given during a very difficult time. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com