Roy W. Gibson

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Roy William Gibson, 88, of Hickory Ridge passed from this life on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at Craighead Nursing Center. R.W. was born on November 5, 1928, in Fisher to George and Grace Dennis Gibson. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 63 years, Betty Welch Gibson; siblings, Robert Gibson, Gertie Cunningham, Lillian O’Donnell, Ruth West, Willie Kay Kennedy, Elmer Gibson, and Burley Sears.

R.W. enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was sworn in on February 2, 1948, in Little Rock. He was sent to the U.S. Naval Training Center for eight weeks of Boot Camp in San Diego, California. Orders were then issued to report to the Naval Ammunition Depot on Guam, Mariana Islands. After eighteen months on Guam, he was sent to Treasure Island in California. R.W. was stationed there for a very brief period of time, and then ordered to go aboard the U.S. S. Mansfield DD-728 located in San Diego, California. Most of R.W.’s time on the Mansfield was spent along the coast of Korea. In November, 1952, R.W. received orders to report to U.S. NAF Weeksville, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. In the spring of 1955 R.W. was transferred to the U.S.S Kenneth Whiting AV-14, Bremerton, Washington. After going aboard the Whiting, R.W. made a western Pacific cruise. R.W. was transferred to the U.S. Naval Station, Kwajalein, Marshall Islands in September 1957. In November 1959, R.W. reported to the Naval Reserve Training Center in Waterloo, Iowa. R.W. reported aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Richard B. Anderson DD-786 on November 21, 1961. In 1963, he received orders to FOCC PAC in Oahu, Hawaii, via the U.S. Naval Station, Washington D.C. where he attended eight weeks of programmer’s school. In 1966, R.W. received orders to go aboard the U.S.S Bellatrix AF-62 that was home ported in Alameda, California. In 1967, R.W. received shore duty at the Naval Administration Unit in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 1968, he received orders to report to Fleet Sonar School in Key West, Florida. After two years in Key West Florida, R.W. requested a transfer to the Fleet Reserve and received it on August 5, 1970.

While serving in the U.S. Navy for 22 years, six months, four days, R.W. received the following awards: Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct – Sixth Award, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clap, China Service Medal, National Defense Service, Korean Service Medal (four stars), United Nation’s Korean War Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Korean Defense Medal.

Upon returning to civilian life, R.W. found employment with Wixson Brothers in Fisher. R.W. sold irrigation wells for this company for 20 years. After retiring from Wixson Brothers R.W. enjoyed fishing, gardening, traveling and spending time with family and military friends far and near.

He is survived by his children; Judy and Steve Jernigan of Lepanto, Hoot and Teena Gibson of Wynne, Jeanie and David Wilson of Hickory Ridge, and Brian and Christina Gibson of Jonesboro; eight grandchildren, Kali Jernigan Brown and her husband Nathan of Youngsville, NC, Christina Wilson Staggs and her husband Jarrod of Jonesboro, Trey Gibson and his wife Beth of Wynne, Dillon Wilson and his wife Brandye of Jonesboro, Kayce Jernigan Todd and her husband Steven of Jonesboro, Silas Gibson of Wynne, Isabella Gibson and Alexandra Gibson both of Jonesboro; great grandchildren, Cooper Todd, Stratton Staggs, Laney Todd, Mary K. Gibson, Robert Hunt, Roy Gibson IV, Arden Staggs, Darcy Wilson and Emma Gibson; one brother, Wade Gibson of Proctor; and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral service will be Saturday, October 28, 2017, at 1:00pm at the Hickory Ridge Church of Christ with Jody and Larry McFadden officiating. Interment will follow at Fisher Cemetery with full Navy Honors and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements. Grandsons will be serving as pallbearers.

Visitation will be Friday evening from 5-7pm at Emerson Funeral Home, and a second visitation will be from noon until service time at 1:00pm on Saturday at Hickory Ridge Church of Christ.

For Lasting Memorials the family requests that you consider the Children’s Home in Paragould, 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR 72401, www.childrenshomes.org