David Leroy Gibson

Born September 8, 1936 - Passed on August 15, 2025, at Age 88

Resident of English Oaks Convalescent Hospital and lived in the Modesto area for nearly 55 years

Children: Glenda Byrd, David Gibson, Jr. (Guy), Judy Gibson, Paul Gibson, Nancy Gibson

Children in his soul: Richard Byrd and Marina Gibson

Grandchildren: Kendra Gibson, Mara Goncalo, Samuel Gibson, Siarra Gibson, Joseph Gibson

Great-Grandchildren: Isabella Murillo, Vincent Flores, Devan Lozano

Siblings: Eva Gamboa, Goldie Dowdy, Tom Gibson

Siblings-Predeceased: Dot Curten, John Gibson, Paul Gibson

Our father was a spectacular Dad! Our childhood was filled with bicycle riding, go-carts, mini-bikes, tennis, roller skating, camping, and of course fishing. Dad relished being able to do all of these fun things with us kids. He was pretty well known for missing a day of work, to be able to take us (and himself) fishing. He enjoyed life and being with his family.

Growing up, Dad always found fun things to do to keep us occupied. He was an avid reader and loved westerns like Louis L’Amour. Popular Science was his favorite magazine. Each of us still love a good book, too. He enjoyed going to the roller rink weekly in Modesto and teaching us how to skate backwards. He spent lots of time bowling and was in several bowling leagues. He also spent time with woodworking, leather projects, and model airplane assembly. He was an active participant in life. Dad took on challenging projects as a way of learning and improving his crafting skills. He always had some ambitious project half-completed, some of which – such as building his own guitars and mandolins – turned into impressive successes. Others remain as yet undelivered.

Dad was an enthusiastic, life-long guitar and mandolin player. He played every day for as long as he was able. He played in several different groups with siblings and friends. If anyone wanted to get together and play, Dad was there.

Dad and Mom divorced in the ‘70s but both put aside any past issues and made sure to participate in family events such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays with the entire family.

He had many lifelong passions – faith, family, music, fishing, and sports. He was an avid Raider fan and cheered them on, though he was always a good sport and could appreciate a great play by any player. He was very proud to watch his kids and grandkids participate in any and all competitions of their choice. Grandpa Dave was as proud as a grandparent could be when attending school events and sporting events for his grandchildren. He enjoyed choir and drama performances, baseball, basketball, swimming, water polo, tennis, and soccer. He was even a fan of women’s sports long before it was cool to watch women’s sports.

Dad spent his final years at English Oaks, in Modesto. The staff remarked on how positive he was and how much they enjoyed interacting with him. Dad became friends with many who worked there, and would tell us stories about the staff. This was nothing new: Dad always made friends wherever he went. He forged relationships with people in his life where he encountered them. He was on a first-name basis with people he interacted with in every setting: the bank, restaurants, the bowling alley.

When Dad first was admitted, the prognosis was not good. Yet, he continued to live at English Oaks for several years, making it his final home. Dad was brave regarding his prognosis. He made certain we were all aware that he’d had a fulfilled life and urged us not to be sad at his passing. He was ready.

Dave played a major role in the upbringing of his grandkids and great-grandkids. In addition to cheering them on at school events, he helped out with after-school care. Friday afternoons often meant hanging out with Grandpa and getting fro-yo or a frosty.

Stories:

The weakest belt: we got into dad’s checkbook one Saturday while he worked and we were home. We thought it was cool to fill out checks. Dad did not. He told us we had to be punished. He was going to have to use his belt. The boys went in first and received their punishment. They came out whimpering and whispered to us girls-the belt is soft and doesn’t even hurt, but pretend it does. So, we each had our turn and also feigned pain. All until the baby-Nancy, was beside herself with anguish as she accused us all of lying to her because “it really hurt!”

We went camping and fishing with Dad at Guy and Angie’s favorite spot. Nancy brought her hammock and it was set up. Dad decided he wanted to sit in it. Nancy warned him that he would more than like flip over if he just sat down. He scoffed, “oh, I don’t think so.” He proceeded to squat, he and the hammock both crumpled backwards. We all just laughed uncontrollably while dad agitatedly with a smirk on his face exclaimed, “well, junk skinny, don’t just stand there laughing at me, help me up!”

We all spent one Christmas at Mom’s South Padre Island vacation home. Guy and Dad were fishing off Mom’s dock and somehow, they both hooked a fish at the same time. While they reeled and tugged, it turned out dad’s line was all twisted around Guy’s line. Guy just cut Dad’s line and dad pulled it in, then went up to the porch light to try and untangle his hook. Each time he would get close the porch, the light would go out. He would turn toward the door and the light would come back on. This happened three times before Judy pointed out his granddaughter, Kendra, in the window laughing each time she turned the light on and off. He called her a little stinker and chuckled at her glee.

Dad taught us all to swim. We would go to the lake and he would swim with one of us on his back. He would go out far enough so we couldn’t touch bottom and we would swim back with him at our side.

Judy remembered-once I had a date as a 7th grader. Nathan asked me, then asked dad over the phone, if I could go with him and his brother on the upcoming Friday night. Dad told him I was to be brought to the front door promptly at 10pm and that he would pick me up at the door without honking the car horn. I was returned to the front door at 10. Nathan decided to be a snot and opened the door, stuck his head in and said “promptly at 10!” and quickly shut the door. Dad and the brothers were watching tv-the boys snickered at Nathan’s gall and Dad was at that door before Nathan released the handle and pulled that door open so fast and hard it nearly knocked Nathan inside the house. Dad said “Great! Now you have a good night. Grabbed me by the hand into the house, slammed and locked the door, then turned off the porch light. Needless to say, Nathan and I had no more dates until high school.

Glenda’s memories-Dad, Guy, Nancy, our friend Diane, and I took a trip to the Bahamas. We were using the bus system to get around. We got on the bus to head to the water. When we got off the bus, we were exclaiming how awful the bus smelled and carrying on about the stench. We complained about the dead fish smell for a few minutes before we looked down and realized Dad had been carrying a bucket of bait so he could fish when we got to the water. It was hilarious! Years later, we still never let him forget this occurrence and embarrassment.

Dad loved the water and particularly enjoyed the ocean. Several times a year, when we were able, he would drive us to San Francisco just so we could see and breathe in the bay. We always had to find a crab, or two, that we could enjoy eating during our visit. He often liked to quote part of the poem Sea Fever, by John Mansfield. Years later I printed and framed the poem for him. We had a good laugh when he read it aloud with the correct words. No matter the wrong words, he got the feel of the poem right – “I must go down to the sea again”.

Guy’s memory-some of the best days I can remember were spent in a fishing boat with my dad. Whether it was jumping on a charter for some deep-sea fishing or taking out my boat and hitting up the Delta for stripers, his motto was “why work today when we can fish, instead”. Dad had a special technique to out-fish me more often than not, it went something like “make sure you rig up exactly opposite of the way everyone says is working; use the least lively bait in the box because it happened to be the one you grabbed; and, of course make sure you spend more time digging bird nests out of your reel, than actually fishing”. I still don’t know how he did it but I guess I’ve still got a lot to learn. We’re all going to miss him tremendously but he left us with some great memories.

Nancy’s memories-one of my favorite memories of Dad was when we went to Mom’s in Texas for Christmas. Dad, Guy, and Kendra were out on the deck fishing and I made Dad some Kahlua hot chocolate, him being on his 2nd cup (Dad doesn’t drink). Kendra came back in and was playing with the light switch, turning the light on and off. Out on the deck, all of a sudden, Dad caught Natasha, Mom’s dog, on his hook. All chaos broke out but she was fine. I was lucky enough to see it from the inside. It was hilarious. He was trying to figure out the lights and Kendra was being sneaky. Guy was completely oblivious to everything but fishing.

Anything with Dad in the Bahamas was so funny and wonderful-his paper-white legs in his red gym shorts and cowboy boots...

Mara-Adjectives about Grandpa: calm, generous, compassionate, creative, helpful, kind, honest, hard-working, considerate, stubborn, hard-headed, patient, forgiving, faithful, loving, reliable, supportive, and tolerant.

Rich’s memory-there are too many to list but the one thing that I know is that I have never, in 35 years of being in his family, heard anything bad said about him. You may not agree or understand him but it was never from his being a bad dad or friend. To me, that says it all about the character of the person. He was just an honest, good guy, to the very end. I’ll miss him immensely.

Message from Randy (John) Gibson – I’m unable to attend the viewing for your father, however my heart is with you as you go through this tremendous loss. I’m deeply sorry for your loss of your father. He was a dear man, and an amazing uncle. There wasn’t a deep-sea fishing trip that he didn’t have us all in stitches. His bright light will be deeply missed! I love this man for his gift and his time. I love you very much, bless him on his next journey. The world will be dimmer without his smile. Randy

Message from Diane Holzschuh (dear friend) – I am so saddened by the loss of your father. I sincerely feel that I have lost my father figure all over again. Mr. Gibson was also so sweet and kind to me. He literally engulfed me with his love and laughter and good cheer. I truly felt like one of his own flesh and

blood children. I will miss him so much and cherish the times that I was able to spend in his presence. Good night, Sir, and take your well-deserved rest in God’s presence.

Dad said he gave his heart to Jesus in a closet. Jesus said in Matthew when you pray don’t pray in the Synagogue (Church) for men to see you and lift you up-like a hypocrite. But rather go into your room, shut the door and pray to your Father in the secret place he hears you and will reward you. Dad took this literally. Dad had many trials and tests in his life: Belonged to a church organization that dictated your comings and goings even whom you married, and who you fellowship with outside of the church. They decided where God wanted you to be helping to start a church. like others we picked up and moved about every two years. It was a hard decision but Dad finally concluded that God offered more to his Christian life than dragging his family all over the west at the behest of a Preacher. After all, wasn’t his faith in following God and not man? Dad suffered a couple separations until the final divorce with our mother. Dad said once that he believed God meant for him to remain faithful to his marriage regardless of its dissolution. After the divorce, we had a fire at the house, what could be salvaged was put in storage and the cost of that loss to replace was too much-it was either rent another place or storage; there just wasn’t enough money. Dad fell from some scaffolding and broke his back and unbeknownst until years later damaged his kidney and bladder from the fall. Dad ended up in English Oaks after falling at home and hitting his elbow (fracturing it) and head. He was hospitalized a couple times afterwards and ended up not being able to walk or have full use of his right arm. In all these trials in life, he referred to the scripture in James and Dad counted them all joy. He never complained or blamed God for his troubles. He said he had patience but would never ask God for more because trials preceded patience in the book of James. Dad played his mandolin, guitars, harmonica, keyboard all for the glory of God. Throughout the Psalm’s there are many chapters and verses to play stringed instruments for the Lord and to make a joyful noise. Dad faithfully played and taught many others to play. He belonged to a couple gospel groups that would go to convalescent homes to play and sing gospel songs. Dad was a prayer warrior. When we had a need, all we had to do was ask dad to pray and we could count on him to seek God. Dad used to say he wanted to pray like Elijah until the rain came! Dad was a witness to anyone he was around. He believed, as 1st Peter indicated, he was to always have defense to everyone who asked you for the reason of his hope in Christ. Either by his jovial spirit or by what he said. He had a love for people and a hope that he would see all his loved ones in Heaven.

Dad was a good man. He was a good father. He was a kind and positive and well-meaning person who has had a positive impact on this world. We all miss him and are relieved to see an end to his suffering.

Our family would like to thank the staff of Doctors Hospital and English Oaks for caring for Dave. We would also like to thank Community Hospice and specifically, Chaplain Shellie, for helping Dave find peace in prayer and gratitude for his blessings