EAST LIVERPOOL - Howard E. Gibbs, 83, of East Liverpool, died Monday morning, Oct. 22, 2012, at Nentwick Convalescent Center following a brief illness. He was born in East Liverpool on March 24, 1929, and was a son of the late Howard R. and Margaret B. (Rice) Gibbs.
Mr. Gibbs had worked for Vernon Dell Dairy in sales and in 1988 he retired from Western and Southern Life Insurance Co. where he had worked as an agent and sales manager for 34 years. After his retirement he began his part time job with the Martin MacLean Altmeyer Funeral Homes working as an associate from 1989 to 2011. He was a 1947 graduate of East Liverpool High School, a veteran of the US Air Force serving during the Korean Conflict and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Mr. Gibbs belonged to the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association and the American Legion Post 70.
Mr. Gibbs was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife: Shirley M. (Roach) Gibbs, whom he married June 15, 1957; two sons: Gary E. Gibbs and his wife, Cindy of Johnson City, Tenn., and Scott A. Gibbs and his wife Mickey of Wellsville; two daughters: Cindy M. Woodyard and her husband, Ronald of Galloway, Ohio, and Elizabeth A. Bonnick and her husband, Wilbert of Kissimmee, Fla.; six grandchildren: Taylor M. Woodyard and Morgan M. Woodyard both of Ohio, Shanna M. Gibbs of Tennessee, Bobbi Jo DeSpain and her husband, Mike of Florida, Trish M. Neal and her husband, Rich of Tennessee, and Zachary A. Gibbs of Ohio; six great-grandsons: Dominic, Zachary and Trent DeSpain of Florida, and Ethan, Caleb, and Aiden Neal of Tennessee; three sisters-in-law: Eileen Purinton, Hazel Flara and Vera Thorne and her husband, Don; brother-in-law: Bob Roach and his wife, Mercy; and a sister-in-law: Ava Roach; as well as many nieces, nephews and great friends.
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Besides his parents, a brother, William K. Gibbs, and a sister, Eleanor Jean Gulutz, preceded him in death.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, at the Calcutta Chapel of the Martin MacLean Altmeyer Funeral Homes with his minister the Rev. Dale Sutton of the church and Mr. Gibbs' neighbor, Pastor Norman Eckert officiating.
Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery where the Tri State Burial Group will accord military honors.
The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home in Calcutta on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice of Senior Independence, 6715 Tippecanoe Road, E201, Canfield, Ohio 44406, First United Methodist Church, 205 W. 5th St., East Liverpool, Ohio 43920 or the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association, 216 E. 4th St., East Liverpool, Ohio 43920. The family wishes to extend a special Thank You to all the employees of the Nentwick Convalescent Center for their compassion and loving care of Howard and his family.
Family and friends may view this obituary and send condolences on line at www.altmeyer.com
