Iris Inez Pitts Gibbs Young

Born in Chattanooga, TN to Iris Inez Pitts Gibb & Robert J. Gibbs of Glen Alpine NC. At a young age the family moved to Sacramento Ca where Iris grew up and went to school including 3 yrs of college. Her father taught her to love and care for animals and she had pets at home throughout her life. She held positions at Weinstock-Lubin Dept store and with the California State Hwy Dept office on The Golden Gate Bridge and in Oakland. After her parents moved back to Kings Mtn. NC she finally moved back east, though she always loved Calif., by driving a truck with her dog Perky as her companion. Iris worked for a Oil Co for awhile but jobs and her career path dictated her move to Virginia in the early 60’swith the Federal Govt. She started at the GPO and started her upward track mainly the U.S. Army Civilian Org. with a position at Ft Myer, VA and lived on S. Pierce St just a few steps from an entrance where she walked Perky near Quarters One. Iris also worked part time at a Woodward& Lothrop store in Landmark and that is where she met Ken who was shopping for an Iron and instead found the love of his life and they were married On Nov 22, 1969 at Arlington United Methodist Church and honeymooned in Hawaii, where they continued to visit every year or so. They traveled extensively on vacations or when Ken had a convenient business trip or when friends called. Iris continued her career path with positions in the Tempo’s outside Ft McNair, at 1/2st SW near Buzzards Pt and in the Forrestal Bldg on Independence Ave in DC Iris finally became the Budget Officer for USA ISSAA (CECOM) Acquisition Center in the Hoffman Bldg on Eisenhower Ave in Alexandria. She loved this position and the people she worked for and with. Her husband was assigned by his company to duties at NAVSEA. So they fought each other while attending the annual Army/Navy football games at Philadelphia and Annapolis. They enjoyed cruising to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, thru the Panama Canal, to & in Alaska, and on the St Lawrence R to Canada, & on the Mississippi & Columbia/Snake Rivers on paddle wheelers in the US .They traveled to CA to visit Iris’ Sacramento, Walnut Creek, Yosemite and San Francisco and went to New Mexico for the annual Balloon Festivals ,twice, at Albuquerque & pts north. They enjoyed traveling together and toured Europe, Scotland, and Ireland. Throughout their lives they were active in their Church& served on Committees & Iris became Treasurer at Arlington United Methodist Church and served in that capacity as long as she was able. Iris had never been Hospitalized since she was born but ailments and mobility problems caught up with her and on May 5, 2012she started with repetitive hospital sessions followed by stays at nursing & rehabilitation facilities. Diabetes & Atrial Fibrillation were the problems at first but on Sept 18,2012she fell and fractured her right hip (femur) and never regained the ability to walk and climb stairs and passed away on Oct 17, 2012 in the hospital due to septic shock. Iris endured five months of protracted care with little time at home. However God called and she was ready to go and we will all miss her greatly.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, many friends and 3 step children & spouses. Lynda & Steve in Houston TX, Cindy & Bruce in Leesburg, & Mark at the Baileys Crossroads domicile.

She and Ken were blessed with 5 Grand Children, and 5 Great Grand Children.