Rose Gibbs

Rose C. Gibbs, age 86, of Middletown, Ohio passed away on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at Atrium Medical Center. She was born January 12, 1926 in Stoke-by-Nayland, England to William E. and Margaret O'Brien Stiff. Rose lived most of her childhood and teen years in Tunbridge Wells County of Kent, England. Rose was a war bride, meeting her husband of 67 years, Paul V. Gibbs, when he was stationed in the Army Air Force in England during W. W. II. They married on March 24, 1945. Rose came to the U. S. in 1946 and lived in Middletown for the rest of her life. She worked at Montgomery Ward for 18 years retiring in 1982. Before Alzheimer's Disease struck, she was an avid reader, liked to take walks, enjoyed following the lives of the Royal Family, was involved in the Ladies' Guild, sang in the church choir for many years, and enjoyed giving the liturgy at her church, St. Paul's United Church of Christ of which she was a member for 60 years. She was a poll worker for Butler County during election years. Rose also belonged to the Dayton TBPA Elizabethan Club. She was always very proud of her heritage and travelled back to England as often as she could. She also took many trips in the U. S. with her husband, and she went on several tours with AARP with her good friend, June Auvil. Preceding her in death were her parents; two sisters, Nellie Robinson, Maud Bush; and one brother, William J. Stiff. Surviving are her husband, Paul; one daughter, Paula Elliott Larry of Franklin Township, Ohio; one son, Gary Gibbs Pam of Middletown; two grandsons, Sean Gibbs and Ryan Fairchild; one granddaughter, Karah Fairchild; two great granddaughters, Alexa and Aviana Fairchild; and one great grandson, Conner Gibbs. Also surviving is one sister, Mary Manklow of England. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Saturday at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home with Pastor Alecia Schroedel officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM Saturday until service time at the funeral home. Entombment will be at the Woodside Cemetery Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 644 Linn Street, Suite 1026, Cincinnati, OH 45203. A guestbook is available at www.breitenbachfuneralhome.com.