William Wilfred Gibson

William Wilfred “Bill” Gibson was born March 12, 1935 to Tom Gibson and Beulah Oneall Gibson on the family farm in Afton, Iowa.  After graduating from Afton High School in 1953 he took a now infamous road trip with his cousin Larry Larimer to California where they did not find jobs and ended up hopping a train with hobos in an attempt to get home. 

Bill enlisted in the Air Force in the mid 50s.  After basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas he was stationed at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas.

Bill enrolled in Spartan School of Aeronautics in 1963 which brought him to Tulsa where he met and married Kaye Way in 1966.  Together they have two sons Thomas Lance born 1969 and Andrew Daniel born 1975.

After finishing his education, where he was second in his class, Bill worked sheet metal at North American, Rockwell and Boeing and was proud to have worked on payload doors for the Space Shuttle program.

Bill was a fan of dirt track racing, enjoying the lake and driving the boat at Eufaula, playing cards and watching NASCAR with his brother and friends on Sundays.  He loved mowing the yard on his zero turn mower.

Bill passed from this world on Monday, August 6, 2018 from complications following surgery.  The family wishes to thank the staff of the Intensive Care, Respiratory Care and Hospice Units at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa, for their competence and compassion.  

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Beulah Gibson, and sister Kae Rusk.  He is survived by his brother Dan Gibson of Collinsvile, OK, sisters Jo Lacina of Creston, IA, Beth Fleming, of Des Moines, IA and Ann Gibson of Dalhart, TX.  Son Tom and daughter in law, Rajeana of Owasso, OK; grandson Will of Owasso, OK and grandson and granddaughter in law Zac and Rhema Ward of Spangdahlem, Germany.  Son Andy and daughter in law, Lindsay of Norman, OK and granddaughter Daltrey as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. 

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