Virginia Gibson

   Virginia Gibson, Ft. Collins’ Ubiquitous Volunteer, Dies at 96

   A doting mother of four with six grandchildren, she was a mid-Western farm girl who shepherded a loving family and touched the hearts of everyone who met her. Virginia died October 16, outside of Ft. Worth, Texas, surrounded by her youngest son and family, a month shy of her 97th birthday.

   Born on a farm near Champaign, Illinois, she was a middle child in a family of eight sired by Lloyd and Myrtle Tenbrook. She started her career in a bank secretarial pool in Champaign, when she met and began her life-long love affair with Harold M. Gibson (deceased) while he attended the University of Illinois during World War II. “Ginny” supported Harold throughout his career with the National Weather Service, moving the family across country eight times in 10 years…from Alaska to New York City, and many places in between.

   Ginny and Harold retired in Ft. Collins in 1985, where they became fixtures in the retirement community and Plymouth Congregational Church. While Harold continued post-Doctoral studies at Colorado State University’s meteorological school, Ginny and Harold were active in bridge and bowling clubs, and energetic supporters of the CSU Women’s Basketball team. Ginny’s real calling was as a consummate volunteer: she devoted extraordinary time to ‘Meals on Wheels’ for more than 25 years, and dedicated over 30 years and 20,000 hours service to the Poudre Valley Hospital. 

   Ginny is survived by her brother, Claris Tenbrook (Brimfield, Illinois); and children, Mark Gibson (Grand Lake, Colorado), Larry Gibson (The Villages, Florida), Judy Gibson (Cooperstown, New York), and Hal Gibson (Aledo, Texas); and six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. 

   A Celebration of Ginny’s life will be held December 4, 1:00 p.m., at the Moot House restaurant in Ft. Collins, Colorado in the Hunt Room. The public is invited; RSVP to markgibsonj24@hotmail.com.

  Arrangements have been entrusted to Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel.