Pauline E. Gibbs 1919-2002

GIBBS, JOHNSON, ANDERSON

Posted By: Lori Clark (email)
Date: 10/10/2002 at 10:56:23

Pauline E. “Polly” Gibbs, age 83 of 1020 S. Scott Blvd., Iowa City died Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 7, 2002 at the First United Methodist Church in Des Moines, with the Reverend Susan Bowman Officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until services at the church on Saturday. Graveside services will be held at 2pm Sunday, September 8, 2002 at the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City with the Reverend Cathy Luck officiating. Memorial donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund or Wesley Acres both in Des Moines. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City (1-866-338-1132) is caring for Polly’s services and her family.

Polly was born January 24, 1919 in Gowrie, Iowa the daughter of Paul and Mabel (Johnson) Anderson. She graduated from Gowrie High School, and later from the University of Iowa in 1940 with degrees in English and Secondary Education. On June 28, 1942 she married Robert Gibbs on her parent’s farm in Gowrie. They just celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. In 1942 her husband, Robert enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a pharmacy mate serving in the South Pacific. While he was in the service, Polly taught school in several school districts around the state. The couple lived in Iowa City after the war until moving to Des Moines in 1959 where her husband, Robert became executive director for the Iowa Pharmacy Association. They moved back to Iowa City in 2001 to be closer to their family in eastern Iowa.

While in Iowa City and Des Moines she was active in many civic, church and community activities. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Des Moines, several book groups, and a antique group. Other activities included serving as president of Downtown Kiwanis Ladies, AAUW, Planned Parenthood book sales. She served as President to the Auxiliary of American Pharmacy Association, University of Iowa Alumni Advisory activities and a campfire leader. She was a substitute school teacher in the Des Moines School system for fifteen years.

Her family includes her husband, Robert; sons, Robert H. Gibbs and his wife, Heather Houston of Seattle, WA, and J. David and his wife, Mia Gibbs of Manchester, IA; daughters, Susan E.Gibbs-Barnes and her husband, Bob Barnes of Seattle, and Ann L. and her husband, Drew Bossen of Iowa City; ten grandchildren, Camila, Reed, Todd, Amy, Sarah, Alexa, Nikki, Jesse, Katie, and Doug; one great-grandson, Ian; brother and his wife, John B. and JoAnn Anderson of Storm Lake; and sisters, Virginia Curry of Eugene, OR, Harriett and her husband, Russell Petersen of Gowrie, and Margaret Paulos of Davenport; sister-in-law, Louise “Dolly” Anderson of Ft. Dodge, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two grandsons, Christopher and Alexander, and a brother, Lt. Commander Charles Anderson.

Polly led a full and rich life. She enjoyed flower gardening, cooking, sewing, had a great love of reading, and loved going to Iowa football games.
She also sang and played the piano,and encouraged all her children in their educational endeavors and to learn a musical instrument or sing in a chorus.
She remained close to her large extended family, maintained a busy social life, and left a legacy of community involvement. She touched many lives.