Lt. Col. Walter Melvin Gibbs, USMC, Ret.

Lieutenant Colonel Walter Melvin “Bud” Gibbs, USMC, Retired, was born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 24th, 1943. He passed away peacefully at home under Hospice Care surrounded by family, friends and loved ones on May 31st, 2015. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs was a decorated military veteran and United States Marine Corps Aviator, who served his country honorably. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Gibbs and Mildred Simms Gibbs, and daughter, Michele Jansen. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 45 years, Luanne Marie Gibbs, daughter Beth Summerlin (Ray), sister Audrey Dale Gibbs, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. His named grandchildren are: Meagan Wolfson (Andrew), Bryan Jansen, Lauren Jansen, Tim Summerlin (April), Mary Lunsford (Weston), and Andrew Summerlin and recently born great-granddaughter, Avery Grace Lunsford. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs is a 1961 Graduate of Dupont High School and a 1965 Graduate of the University of Georgia with a BA in Business Administration. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and entered the United States Marine Corps upon completion of Officer Candidate School in December 1965. He entered the Basic School in Quantico, VA and graduated in May 1966. He completed flight training in Pensacola, FL November 1967. After operational training, he was assigned to VMO-2 Squadron in Vietnam as a Helicopter Gunship Pilot. After serving meritoriously in Vietnam, he continued his faithful 21 year career of military service. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs honorably retired on December 1986, after completing his service with the Fleet Marine Force Pacific located in Okinawa, Japan. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs awards include: the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal w/ 1 Star, the Bronze Star w/ V for Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Action, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs also maintained an Expert Qualification with both the M-16 Rifle and the .38 caliber Pistol throughout his military career. He was a tried and true patriot who loved and supported the military as well as the foundation of our United States Constitution--all of his living days. He was greatly loved and will be tremendously missed by his entire family, close friends and neighbors. A Funeral celebrating his life will be held at the Mandarin Chapel Hardage Giddens Funeral Home located at 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida 32223 on June 10th, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the following organizations in honor of Lt. Col. Walter Melvin Gibbs, USMC, Retired: Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation 909 N. Washington St. Suite 400 Alexandria, VA 22314 *Online giving visit https://my.mcsf.org/2014/donate Community Hospice Care 4114 Sunbeam Road, Bldg. 400 Jacksonville, Florida 32257 communityhospice.com