Gibson, Howard

Howard L. Gibson, Msgt USAF(Ret) age 78, died at home, Saturday, July 9th, 2011 following a bout with lung cancer. He was born in Richmond County, February 24, 1933 to the late Ruth C. and William C. Gibson. He retired from the USAF and Air National Guard with over 30 years of service. After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, his backyard gardening and visiting the beach and mountains. His life was lived with integrity, generosity, and humor. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Patsy Ruth Gibson (infant), and Lucille Jones, brothers, Bill and Jack Gibson. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Maxine Wallace Gibson, his son, Lee Gibson (Carol) of Goshen, KY, and daughter, Carol Ann Dunaway, Cheyenne, WY, his children by marriage, Lynda, Eric and Carl Ritzen of Raleigh, NC, his sister, Irene Lewis of Hamlet, NC, six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren. His extended family includes: Bill Allen, Pat, Charley, and Lauren Weston, Bobby Hughes, MAFFS-Forest Service, the Air National Guard, Southern Pines Elks Club, and numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at Boles Funeral Home Chapel in Southern Pines with Rev. Jonathan Wallace and Pastor John Prine officiating. Burial will follow at Bethesda Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to FirstHealth Hospice, 150 Applecross Rd., Pinehurst, NC 28374f or to Southern Pines Elk‘s Lodge # 1692, 280 Country Club Circle, Southern Pines, NC 28387 or to Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 1002 N. Sandhills Blvd. Aberdeen, NC 28315.