Paul Vernon Gibbs

Paul V. Gibbs, age 95, of Middletown, OH passed away on Monday, December 25, 2017 at Otterbein of Lebanon, OH. He was born in Middletown, OH on May 5, 1922 to Ebb Gibbs and Edith Beatty Gibbs. Paul was a life-long Middletonian.

Paul was a fireman (eventually achieving the rank of Captain) for the City of Middletown for 27 years, retiring in October 1976.

He was a Sergeant in the Army Air Corp during WWII. Stationed in England as a radio operator at a relay station, there, Paul relayed messages from station to station. During his time in England, he met his future wife, Rose Stiff Gibbs. They were married on March 24, 1945 and were married for 67 years until her death in July 2012.

Paul graduated from Monroe High School in 1940. He was athletic and played basketball for the Monroe Hornets Basketball team. He played guard and was the team’s sixth man. In 1939, the team went to the state semi-finals and lost to North Canton. However, this experience was still exciting as the Hornets were from, at the time, a small farming community playing a large community school.

Paul, also liked playing and watching baseball, liked to bowl and in his middle years enjoyed playing golf. He liked doing crossword puzzles and traveling with his wife in the U.S. and made numerous trips back to England. He was an usher at his church, sang in the choir and was, for a time, involved in some maintenance of the church building.

Survivors include his daughter, Paula (Larry) Elliott of Franklin Township, OH; son, Gary (Pam) Gibbs of Middletown, OH; grandsons, Sean (Lindsey) Gibbs of Trenton, OH and Ryan (Karla) Fairchild of Madison Township, OH; granddaughter, Karah (Jesse) Ouimet of New Albany, OH; great-granddaughters, Alexa and Aviana Fairchild; a soon-to-arrive great-granddaughter, Lennon Ouimet and great-grandson, Connor Gibbs. Also surviving Paul are his brothers, Dale (Darlene) Gibbs of Monroe, OH, Don Gibbs of Monroe, OH and sister, Pat Conrad of Hillsboro, OH.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Glenn and Richard Gibbs; sisters, Betty Gibbs and Mildred Dennis.

Visitation will be at Breitenbach Anderson Funeral Home, 517 S. Sutphin St, Middletown, OH on Saturday, December 30, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. until Noon. Services will immediately follow. Pastor Sheresa Simpson-Rice of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (of which Paul was a member for many years) will lead the service. Entombment will be at Woodside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Please visit www.breitenbach-anderson.com to send online condolence.