Roy Gibson

MAKANDA, Ill. -- Roy Gibson, 84, of Makanda, Ill., died Friday, Sept. 17, 2004, at the home of his daughter.

He was born Sept. 27, 1919, in Wayland, Ky., son of Joseph and Margaret Turner Gibson. He and Clarissa Pina Opal Mullins were married Feb. 18, 1946.

Gibson served with the 20th Medical Corps, 3rd Army in World War II. He was in the battles of Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland, receiving the Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four Bronze Battle Stars, three Overseas Service Bars, one Service Stripe and Good Conduct Medal. He was a lifetime member of the VFW.

He owned a Firestone store, a restaurant and worked in coal mines before obtaining his GED and graduating from the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1945 with a BS in civil engineering. Gibson went to work for the Illinois Department of Transportation in Carbondale, Ill., and retired in 1986 after 32 years. He served the community of Makanda on the town planning board and as commissioner.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Greg Gibson of Carbondale; three daughters, Nancy Kalm of Sneads Ferry, N.C.; Margaret Stoncius of Carbondale; Pamela Leighton of Cape Girardeau; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, Joseph, James and William Gibson; three sisters, Mattie Gibson, Ethel Krueger and Audrey Marshal.

He was preceded in death by his twin brother and five sisters.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. John Annable officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery at Carbondale.