Geraldine Gibbs

Geraldine (Gerry) Gibbs, age 83, of Toledo, passed away on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at Swan Creek Retirement Village. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Gilbert and Irene (Morrison) Robertson. She spent her early years in Flint, Michigan and graduated from Flint Central High School in 1946.

Gerry had many creative talents and interests. From a young age she did sketches and original cartoons. Later, she painted portraits of her husband and other famous Americans like John F. Kennedy and Harry Belafonte. She played piano and enjoyed attending live performances of famous musicians. It was her participation in a musical fan club which led to her to move to Toledo. During the 1950’s, she melded her interest in music and travel by taking trips to Chicago and New York to see concerts. While in New York she enthusiastically attended the Ed Sullivan Show, Steve Allen Show and Your Hit Parade .

Gerry began work in the classified advertising department of the Toledo Blade in 1952, and worked there for many years, taking a break to raise a family after she married Thomas Gibbs in 1959. She returned to the Blade in the 1980’s and worked there until her retirement.

She and Tom enjoyed travel and made many trips to New York City and Australia to visit their children and grandchildren. They also loved to travel by train, making trips across country. She was an avid reader and always shared timely and insightful articles with her children.

Gerry was interested in current events and particularly enjoyed participating in the political process. Gerry volunteered in the campaigns of Adlai Stevenson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. She expressed her views in letters-to-the-editor published in many newspapers and magazines such as The Toledo Blade, Time Magazine, Newsweek and the Herald Sun in Melbourne,

Australia. Her comments via fax also reached, and were displayed on, the new C-Span cable network in the 1990’s.

Her special interests in her later years were the activities of her grandchildren and organizing her photographs. Both she and Tom spent many hours on almost daily phone calls with her children. She loved animals and one of her greatest pleasures was looking at pictures of cats and kittens.

Gerry was a quiet person, but those who knew her were often dazzled by her quick, intelligent wit. She was a keen observer of those she loved and had an uncanny ability to choose the most thoughtful gifts. Her generosity and humor will be greatly missed.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Swan Creek Retirement Village. Their love and care for Gerry during her 3-year stay was nothing less than extraordinary. They were truly part of Gerry’s family.

Surviving are, sister, Helen Robertson son, Richard (Johanne) Gibbs; daughter, Amy (Ian) Gazard; grandchildren, Jack & Sydney;. Her husband Tom passed away in 2008 and she was preceded in death by her brother Kendall Robertson.

In keeping with Gerry's wishes, there will be no visitation and burial will be private. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution might consider the Toledo Humane Society. Arrangements were entrusted to Neville Funeral Home, Holland and the family would welcome online memories of Gerry and condolences to www.nevillefuneralhome.com.