Gordon Gibson, MD, COL, USAFR (ret)
Gordon Gibson left his earthly life April 19, at home with people he loved and less than a minute after two of his children talked and sang to him. Gordon was born in Chicago, IL to Boyce and Lois Gibson and graduated from Evanston High School. After attending college, he worked in construction by day and frequented Chicago jazz clubs at night. Then he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a physician, graduating from Emory University Medical School. Following his internship in medicine at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in 1966, he was commissioned in the Air Force, trained and served as a flight surgeon, and while at Eglin Air Force Base was chosen as Flight Surgeon of the Year for Air Force Systems Command. As part of his residency in Aerospace Medicine, he completed a Master of Public Health degree at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Upon completion of his residency in 1971, he became Chief of Aerospace Medicine at Air Force Logistics Command. Following an assignment at Udorn, Thailand, he returned in 1975 to a staff job at the School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks AFB, TX. After 11 years of active duty, he settled in Texas, became a civilian flight surgeon, and finished his military career in the Air Force Reserve, board certified in both preventive medicine and family practice, serving as Commander of the 301st Tactical Hospital. His last fifteen years before retirement from his civilian medical career in 2000 were spent as an emergency physician. Following a four-month activation during Desert Storm, he and his family moved to Gulf Breeze, where he worked until retirement at the Naval Hospital Pensacola Emergency Department.
His favorite pastimes included snow skiing with family, sailing his sailboat, and traveling the U.S. and Canada in the family RV. He loved dogs, especially weimaraners and standard poodles, both of which he had and spent many hours training (even one to be a cadaver dog) and loving. When he wasn’t working, he was either doing a house project while whistling jazz or relaxing absorbed in his latest novel, one hand resting on the dog he loved. He was the lead in a community theater play, Harvey, surrounded by kids during intermission as he talked about his 6-foot rabbit friend. His creative brilliance was expressed in small and large ways, whether making bass violin or Transformer Halloween costumes for his 9 and 7 years olds, building a Boy Scout Pinewood Derby car, or designing an earth-sheltered home for his family. He volunteered at Ft. Pickens and as an auxiliary officer for the GBPD, driving patrol cars to deter speeding. He was a curious and playful spirit and always loved being silly with his grandkids and great grandkids. Gordon is survived by his wife, Jean; sister, Susan; daughters, Kate, Karen, Karyl and Tara; son, Nick and their families, including nieces and nephews, 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The family, especially Jean, are so grateful to Granny Nannies and the caregivers for the care they provided over six years, especially dear Zoey, Tonya and Mirta, who enabled Gordon to be home. And many thanks to Emerald Coast Hospice staff for the care and support they gave both Gordon and family. Finally, thanks to Reverend Rob for the wonderful and spontaneous memorial service at the family home. A military burial will be arranged at a later date. Of one thing we feel certain: he no longer sees through a glass darkly, but now face to face with our loving God.