Theodore W. Gibson

Theodore William Gibson, born June 26, 1906, passed away quietly February 15, 2005 at Oakridge Healthcare Center in Plattsburg, MO. Throughout his ninety-eight plus years, his motto was ?striving to be useful,? and he was interested in everything and everyone until the end.

Hixson-Klein Funeral Home of Gower is handling the arrangements with visitation scheduled from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Thursday, February 17th and funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 18th. Visitation and service will both be held at Hixson-Klein in Gower. Rev. Bob Elliott of Gower Christian Church will conduct the funeral service.

Ted Gibson was the second child of ten children born to James William and Lula (Deakins) Gibson of Gower. Following graduation from Gower High School and one year at Northwest Missouri State, he taught rural school for two years at Stamper School. Ted then fulfilled a dream of working on airplanes by gaining employment with Curtiss-Wright Flying Service at Fairfax Airport in Kansas City, Kansas. His move to Chicago with Braniff Airways led to meeting his ?lovely lady? Myrtle Berg and their marriage on November 28, 1935. She preceded him in death on March 13, 1998.

Braniff Airways took Ted to Dallas, where he was Superintendent of Maintenance until 1950. He then moved his family back to home ground and established Gibson Truck and Tractor Company in Plattsburg. Upon his brother Dick?s death in 1972, he and Myrtle moved to Falls City, NE, where Ted joined his brother Bob in business at Falls City Truck and Implement Company.

Following Mrs. Gibson?s death in 1998, Ted remained in his Falls City home until October 2002, when he became a resident at Oakridge.

Family and people connections were supremely important to Ted, as well as thinking of projects to help others. He was a voracious reader of books, newspapers and magazines as attested by his numerous marginal notes expressing his opinion or recalling additional memories. Ted?s membership in Rotary was very important to him, as exemplified by his 48 years of perfect attendance.

Ted is survived by children, Joanne Brookshier of Independence, KS, Ted J. Gibson of Arizona and Glenn R. and wife, Jane (Wallace) Gibson of Denver, CO, three grandchildren, Michael Brookshier of Philadelphia, Jody Bafus of Phoenix and Matt Brookshier of Olympia, WA, and four great-grandchildren. Additional survivors are brother, David Gibson of Gower, and sister, Louanna Burton, Brunswick, MO, other relatives and many friends.

Ted was loved dearly by family and friends, and will be missed by all.

Donations may be made to Gower Christian Church, Oakridge of Plattsburg or Plattsburg Rotary Club Scholarship Fund.