Edith Gibb Dillon "Gibby" Edson

10/29/1926 - 05/24/2025

Edith Gibb "Gibby" Dillon Edson died May 24, 2025 in Annapolis, MD at the age of 98, after a long life filled with adventure, service, art and love.
Gibby was the first child of Allan McLane and Edith Gibb Pratt. She was predeceased by her beloved brothers Allan McLane and Robert M. McLane.
Gibby lived in Annapolis from 1987 to the present. Her dear companion Paul L. Herring passed away in 2021. Her second husband, Robert. K. Edson, died in 2012 after 25 years of marriage.
Gibby was married in September 1948 to Thomas P. Dillon after a whirlwind romance that began on the SS America and continued in epistolary form as she toured Europe with her brother. Dillon, a career Foreign Service Officer, died in 1986.
As a Foreign Service spouse, Gibby served at posts in Switzerland, Iceland, Hong Kong, Czechoslovakia and Washington, DC. She performed these often underappreciated diplomatic and organizational tasks with grace, charm and wit.
People, especially family, the arts, travel and education were among Gibby's passions. She attended the Chapin School in New York City, graduated from the Westover School in 1944 and Vassar College in 1948, earning Phi Beta Kappa. In 1977, she earned a Master's Degree in Human Service from National Graduate University in Washington, DC.
On return from overseas service, Gibby devoted many years to community service. She often held leadership positions, including as president of the AAFSW (then called the Association of American Foreign Service Women), at the DC Red Cross (chair, Nursing and Health Programs, 1969-1976), as gerontology consultant at National Graduate University, and as President of All Hallows Guild at the National Cathedral in Washington.
After moving to Annapolis, Gibby continued her involvement in community and cultural affairs. She was especially committed to St. John's College as a member of board of the Friends of St. John's College and through the Caritas Society, of which she was a life member since 1988 and president from 1999-2001
Gibby was a devoted member of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Annapolis. In addition to her family and wide circle of friends, Gibby leaves a tight network of honored caregivers who became like family in recent years.
Survivors include her children, Penelope Jane Dillon of Barre, MA, Susan Gibb Dillon (Rick Keesler) of Essex, MA, Thomas McLane Dillon (Rosemary) of Madison, CT, John Anderson Dillon (Kimberly Hagen) of Middlesex, VT, and Edith Ann Dillon (Thomas L. Fleischner) of Prescott, AZ. Nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren provided great joy, as did her many nieces and nephews. Peter, Josephine and Paula Herring of Annapolis adopted her as their own and gave much love and support in recent years.
A celebration of Gibby's life will be held at 11 a.m., June 14 in Friendship Hall at the Ginger Cove Retirement Community in Annapolis.