Erwin Roscoe Gibson

Captain Erwin Roscoe Gibson 83, of Greenwood, IN, better known as "Rocky," beloved husband of Dorothy Ann Gibson for 56 years, passed away on December 15, 2008. He was born in Soldier, KS, to Ada and Rollo Gibson on November 16, 1925. Most of Rocky's life was spent at sea. He joined the Merchant Marine out of high school during WWII. After a brief service in the Army with the 28th Div. in Germany during the Korean War, he rejoined the Merchant Marine service. He quickly rose to the position of ship master and captain. While living in Concord, CA, for more than 20 years, he captained multiple ships for the Military Sealift Command Pacific until his retirement from there in 1974. He and Dorothy moved to Greenwood in 1974 and he took the position of captain of the Louisville Belle for a year. He then worked for SEDCO for almost 20 years as ship master and captain of ocean going, oil drilling ships around the world. He maintained his master's certification as a ship captain for any size vessel on any ocean through 2006. Generous of heart and spirit, Rocky was a longtime member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite, the Murat Shrine and the Johnson County Shrine, where he served in many capacities from shrine clown, co-founder of the Mobile Nobles, to aide for several potentates. He was also a gentleman farmer with a farm first in Johnson County and then in White County. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his only child, Lynn Yocum (Karl) of Greenwood; his grandson Carl Yocum of Pittsburg, CA; his granddaughter, Lisa Wilde (Michael); and his great-grandson, Blake Wilde of Greenwood. He is also survived by his brother, Philip Gibson of CA; sisters, Veda Sharon, Velma Burris, and Grace Helmut of KS, Alberta Ford of Maryland; and several nieces and nephews. Friends and family may gather Friday, December 26 from 5pm until 9pm at G.H. Herrmann Madison Avenue Funeral Home, 5141 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, December 27 at the funeral home, followed by a Burial Service conducted in the Gothic Chapel at Crown Hill Cemetery, where Rocky will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Masonic Home of Indiana, 690 S. State Street, Franklin, IN 46131, or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 3229 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3095. Online condolences may be shared with the family at: www.ghherrmann.com.