Ronald Lee Gibson

Ronald Lee Gibson was born in Marshalltown, Iowa on January 15, 1946, to Harry Eugene Gibson and Adeline Emma Nuese Gibson, which increased the family from five sons to six. He was a blessing because Dad had another boy to help in the family business of dairy farming.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his brothers Dale E. Gibson, Norman C. Gibson, and Glenn A. Gibson. He has two Surviving brothers D. Wayne Gibson and Richard W. (Sharon) Gibson.

Ronald attended a one room schoolhouse in Tama through the eighth grade and finished his high school education in Tama-Toledo Unified School District and graduated in 1964.

In September of 1965 he received his letter to join the U.S. Armed Forces in the branch of his choice. The Navy was the only branch that could accommodate his request. He arrived in San Diego for boot camp. After boot camp he applied for the nuclear power program and was accepted. In the fall of 1966 he arrived in Vallejo, CA for the first half of his training. Where he met his wife Kathryn Broadbent Gibson. They were married on June 10, 1967, at the Navy Chapel on Mare Island, Vallejo, CA. The second half of his nuclear training took place in Ballston Spa, NY in the fall of 1967. During this time, their daughter, Shalene, was born. The next stop was in New London/Groton, Conn. where he trained for the submarine service. When the training was completed, he was assigned to the USS Pargo 650. This submarine was a nuclear-powered fast attack that was doing testing in the Atlantic. One of the many missions that Ron took part in was mapping out a route from the Atlantic to the Pacific under the North Pole. He had many stories for all the adventures he experienced during his time on the Pargo. He was then assigned to Electrician “B” School at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Chicago, IL where his son, Colin was born. After his completion of that course, he was assigned to S1W in Arco, ID as a training instructor for the nuclear program. When the assignment was completed in Idaho, he made the decision to leave the Navy and continue his life in the civilian world.

In Idaho he was employed by an electrical company that did general electrical business. We were in Idaho for nine years. On a trip to Oregon to visit friends, he was given an opportunity to join an electrical company in Hillsboro, OR and accepted the offer. In the fall of 1979, he made the move, and his family joined him in June of 1980. In 1989, he was asked to join Stoner Electric in Portland OR where he joined the IBEW 48. His responsibilities were to coordinate and supervise the constructions jobs over the time he was with the company. His assigned jobs included traveling to Washington State, Alaska, Montana, Idaho and Oregon. He mainly supervised Safeway stores that were being constructed or remodeled. Another area of his expertise was setting up the equipment in x-ray and MRI examining rooms in hospitals. He retired from Stoner in May 2008.

Ron was a devoted and loving husband to his wife and proud, supportive, and loving father to daughter, Shalene Rochelle Gibson, who resides in Sierra Vista, AZ and son, Colin Eugene Gibson, who resides in Mesa AZ.

Since moving to Sun City Anthem by Del Webb at Merrill Ranch, Ron has been able to enjoy his love of golf, garden club, SCATS (Sun City Anthem Theatrical Society) and many other activities that are available in our community. He’s enjoyed the functions at the Elks in Coolidge.

He will be missed by his loving family and friends that he has made over his lifetime.

In lieu of flowers, some of his favorite charities where we ask donations to be sent in his memory are:

Frank Siller, Tunnel to Towers, 2361 Hyland Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10306, T2T.org

Morris Animal Foundation, 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 174A, Denver, CO 80246, morrisanimalfoundation.org

Salvation Army, 1718 E. Florence Blvd. Casa Grande, AZ 85122, casagrande.salvationarmy .org

Coolidge/Florence Elks #2350, P.O. Box 1033, Florence, AZ 85132, [email protected]

or the charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LakeshoreMort.com for the Gibson family.