William Lloyd Gibbs

He was the son of William and Laura (Gazeley) Gibbs and younger brother of Jean Goodman. He grew up in North Portland, running wild with his cousins Bill and Ralph Gazeley. Bill attended Portsmouth Grade School, Benson Polytech where he played football and ran track. He went on to attend Van Port College. During college while working at the glue factory he met and married his wife of 65 years Jeanette Burns.

Bill went on to graduate from the University of Portland School of Engineering in 1955 just before his son Wm. Randall Gibbs was born. He soon started working at Northwest Natural Gas and 37 years later retired. During those years Bill and Jeanette had another son Robert who died 1959. Then came a daughter Nancy. The family moved to Salem for seven years returning to Portland in 1971. With time Bill’s family grew to include his daughter-in-law Kathy LaBerge Gibbs, grandchildren Billy and wife Waverly Peterson Gibbs, Erin Gibbs; Son-in-law Rich Sotta, and granddaughter Michelle Sotta.

Bill loved the outdoors, gardening, camping, waterskiing, tennis and when he couldn’t be outside he would be woodworking with his friend and brother-in-law Dale Meyers. Bill was a quiet man who was respected by his associates and loved by his family. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.