Margaret "Peggy" C. Gibson

Mrs. Gibson was preceded in death by her husband, USAF Lt. Colonel John R. Gibson; parents, William S. and Ruth P. Cooney; sister, Ruth Detwiler; and brothers Bob, Bill, Joe, Wade and Mike Cooney. She is survived by daughters Lynda G. Neel of Goldsboro, NC; Sheri G. Steiner of Steamboat Springs, CO; and Pamela G. Moffett and Patricia G. Overton both of Woodstock, GA; sister of Harry “Skip” Cooney of Starke, FL and Muriel Monn of Shippensburg, PA; grandmother of Meredith Christenson, Jennifer Ames, Parke Townes and Wesley Crochet; and great-grandchildren, Madison Bass, Ariel and Kylie Ames, Mallory Crochet and Jada Townes.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 19, 2015 at 11:00 am at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel. Military honors and interment to follow at Arlington National Cemetery. A reception will be held from 1-3:00 p.m. at the Ft. Myer Officers’ Club, 214 Jackson Ave, Fort Myer, VA 22211

Margaret / Muggie Gibson, best known as Peggy, was born on July 12, 1923 in Oella, Maryland. She had eight siblings. Some of her fondest memories were of her beloved parents, Bill and Ruth Cooney, and her cherished brothers and sisters. The children grew up during the Great Depression, but were very close, loved to have fun and play pranks on people. At the age of 76, Peggy wrote and published a book entitled “To the Best of My Recollection.” It focused on her family’s colorful history and her wonderful…often hilarious….childhood events.

Peggy went to nursing school in Baltimore, MD at the age of 17. She entered the Army Nurse Corp during WWII and served in Pearl Harbor, earning the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Peggy served as an RN in various locations throughout her life, retiring from Fairfax Hospital in 1985. Being a military wife, Peggy lived in numerous locations. She was well loved by everyone. Her laugh was contagious and her sense of humor endearing.

Peggy had an amazing gift – she could hear a poem, ballad or song (most from childhood) and then recite or sing them without missing one word. She loved photographing people, making crafts, collecting antiques (she and her sister, Ruth, had an antique shop entitled The Court of Two Sisters) and enjoying family activities. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.