Robert Bruce "Bob" Gibson

BLOWING ROCK - Robert Bruce "Bob" Gibson, beloved husband of Peggy Lee Wingate Gibson, passed away in his sleep in the early morning hours of Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, at the age of 77. Bob was born Sept. 11, 1927, in Biltmore Township, Asheville, to James Edward Gibson and Kathryn Setzer Gibson. Mr. Gibson attended city schools in Winston-Salem, graduating in 1945 from Reynolds High School, where he was a two-year football letterman, earning All-City and All-Conference honors. Immediately after graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the 1945 Camp Peary football team at Williamsburg, Va. In 1946, Bob was a scholarship athlete at N.C. State University and played in the Gator Bowl football game that same year. Transferring to Duke University, he graduated in 1950 with an English major. Bob was a senior sports editor of the Duke Chronicle student newspaper for two years, a Varsity "D" Club member and an assistant in the Duke athletics information office. His ties to Duke remained constant over the years as he was a charter Iron Dukes member and a member of the Duke Varsity Club and Duke Alumni Association, publicity chair for class reunio ns in 1995 and 2000, and a member of the Half-Century Club. While a student at Duke, Bob married on Dec. 27, 1949, his high-school sweetheart, Peggy Lee Wingate, daughter of Ruth B. Wingate of Winston-Salem. Their nuptials were held at Calvary Moravian Church. In the 1950s, Bob was employed by the General Electric Co. in Charlotte, Memphis and Atlanta as sales manager, district manager and Southeast regional specialist. He was inducted in the General Electric Elfun Society in 1956. In 1960, the Gibson family moved to Clearwater, Fla., where he was owner and president of St. Anthony Distributing Corp., a wholesaler of heating and air-conditioning equipment. His company was often cited as a leading franchise for the Air Comfort Division, McGraw Edison Co., twice winning the National President's Award. In Clearwater, Bob was active in the Episcopal church, serving as vestryman, junior and senior warden and a Boy Scout troop committeeman. Retiring to Blowing Rock in 1983, Bob joined American Legion Post 256. He was post adjutant, Boys State coordinator, Boy Scout troop committeeman, post membership chairman and on the N.C. American Legion Department Public Relations Board. A Rotarian, Bob was a director, club president, editorial board member and marketing chair for the successful Rotary-sponsored book, A Village Tapestry, a history of Blowing Rock published in 1989. From 1996 to 1998, he was campaign finance chairman for the Rotary Club's 50th anniversary "Pavilion Project," which resulted in a $120,000 addition to Blowing Rock's parks and recreation assets. Bob was a Paul Harris Fellow, twice selected Rotarian of the Year and Blowing Rock Citizen of the Year in 1990. His board memberships included Blowing Rock Charity Horseshow, Historical Society, Watauga United Way, Watauga Medical Center Foundation and the Appalachian State University Belk Library. In 1999-2000, Bob served on the ASU Centennial Celebration Executive Board and received the Chancellor's Society plaque. Bob was an active member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock. Bob's beloved wife of 53 years, Peggy, passed away Aug. 3, 2004. Surviving family members include his children, son Robert Bruce Gibson Jr. and his wife, JoAnn and their daughters, Haley Kay and Deena Coulter Gibson of Miami, Fla.; daughter Ruth Elizabeth "Betsy" Horne and her husband, Thomas Clarke Horne of Savannah, Ga.; son Thomas Coulter Gibson and his wife, Arva Suzanne and their triplet daughters, Kendall Coulter, Ansley Suzanne and Adele Elizabeth Gibson of Great Falls, Va.; and son James Wingate Gibson and his wife, Diana Lowe of Los Angeles, Calif. In addition, surviving siblings include brother James Edward Gibson Jr. and his wife, Joyce Talton Gibson of Smithfield; and sister Kathryn Augusta Johnston of Greensboro. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at St. Mary's of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock with a reception to follow. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Vogler's Funeral Home in Winston-Salem with a graveside service to follow at 1 p.m. Saturday at Forsyth Memorial Park in Winston-Salem. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to St. Mary's of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock, Duke University, Appalachian State University or the giver's charity of choice.