William "Bill" Gibson

William L. “Bill” Gibson, 73, of Jonesboro passed from this life on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center. He was born in Jonesboro on January 17, 1942 to Claude and Dorothy Gibson. Bill graduated from Valley View High School in 1959 and married his wife, Jeanette in 1961. He graduated from Central Baptist College and was later ordained as a minister in November of 1963.

Bill was pastor in churches in Arkansas and Kansas and later became a missionary. Without knowing any Spanish, Bill and his family drove from Arkansas to Costa Rica to start his first mission. He was involved with missions in Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Honduras and Chile from 1971-2012. Bill’s passion in life was leading people to Christ! He also loved to sing, hunt and fish. He is preceded in death by his father, Claude Gibson.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Jeanette Gibson of the home; son, Bill Gibson Jr. (Melinda) of Kansas City; daughter, Monica Stimach (Randy) of Valley View; mother, Brownie Gibson of Jonesboro; brother, Dennis Gibson of Jonesboro; and sister, Janelle Seat of Jonesboro. He also leaves behind grandchildren, Shane Gibson, Corrie Gibson, Brock Stimach and Brody Stimach; and one great granddaughter, Norah Gracey Stimach.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at Emerson Funeral Home with Bro. Gary Gipson and Bro. Jim Thompson officiating. The burial will follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with the active pallbearers being Brock Stimach, Brody Stimach, Shane Gibson, Glenn Thompson, Jimmy Ward, and Blake Thompson. The honorary pallbearers will be Bill Vick and the Men of Big Creek Valley Baptist Church.

The visitation will be prior to the service from 12:30-2:00 p.m. For lasting memorials, please consider BMA of America, Department of Missions (Chile), P.O. Box 878, Conway, Arkansas 72033 or visit www.bmamissions.org.