Laura Elsie Gibson

Laura Elsie Gibson, 99, of Charlottesville, Virginia died on March 12, 2016 after a brief illness, surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her four siblings Peter, George, and Rico Babic and her identical twin Elsie Laura Friel. She is survived by her three sons John A. Gibson, of Potomac, MD; James E. Gibson and his wife, Dana and grandson James Tucker of Bethesda, MD; Robert S. Gibson and his wife, Mary of Charlottesville and their children Jeffrey, Elise, and Mara and her husband Brett Reif and great-grandson Coel, and many nieces and nephews. Born in Barre, VT on June 24, 1916, Laura was the daughter of Dragutin and Nina Lucic Babic and wife of John G. Gibson. She was raised and educated in Montpelier, VT and graduated from Saint Michael's School in 1934 and a local business school in 1936. During WW II, she served in the Women’s Naval Reserve (WAVE Service) and was stationed in NYC. In 1947, she married John G. Gibson from Burlington, VT. They gradually moved with their family from Vermont via Connecticut to the Philadelphia area for his work with the Department of Commerce as one of 12 regional directors of the US Census Bureau. They lived for twenty years and raised their boys in Merchantville, NJ before moving to Sarasota, FL at retirement in 1973. Laura remained in Sarasota after her husband’s death in 1980, until her move to Charlottesville, VA in 2007, in order to be nearer to her sons and their families. During her adult life she was a devoted wife and mother, and worked as a bookkeeper in NJ and in Sarasota. She was an avid golfer, bowler and card player, and she loved cats. Laura enjoyed knitting and embroidery, often sharing her crafts with her children and grandchildren. Full of life through her late 80s, she traveled extensively with friends and was known for her love of fun, self-sufficiency, pithy comments and sense of humor. Laura will be laid to rest in Sarasota alongside her husband in a private service at a later date. The family is grateful for the support and compassionate care she received from Dr. Mark Lepsch, the staff at the Christopher Center at Our Lady of Peace, and the Hospice of the Piedmont. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to those charities.