GIBSON, George E. (1927-2022)

GIBSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/30/2022 at 13:03:58

George Edmund Gibson
(February 5, 1927 - April 20, 2022)

Rev. George E. Gibson of Indianola, Iowa, after serving United Methodist churches in Kansas City, Missouri, and Kalona, Farragut (five churches- Faith Parish), Centerville (seven churches- Faith United Parish), Sheldon, Harlan, Washington, and Grundy Center, Iowa, as well as Yuma Arizona, accepted his final appointment to heaven on April 20, 2022.
George, the son of George Rex and Mary Louise Hall Gibson, was born on February 5, 1937 in Newton, Iowa. He graduated with a diploma from Newton High School in 1955, served in the United States Army for a short time, and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Simpson College in 1959. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity Degree from St. Paul’s School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri in 1963.
On December 21, 1958, George was united in marriage with Sally Ann Young, at First United Methodist Church in Newton. They were blessed with three children, Margy, Allan, and Kathy, and raised their family not only in parsonages, but in churches, swimming pools, lakes, oceans, auditoriums, golf courses, and campgrounds from coast to coast.
His proudest accomplishments were his children and grandchildren, and that he spent his life seeking to end discrimination, working for racial equality and inclusion for all. He and Sally integrated the first United Methodist church in Kansas City in 1962 and were activists for justice in many ways throughout their lives.
While working full-time as a pastor, George made time for mission work, traveling with work teams to South Dakota, Appalachia, Arizona, and Mexico, and was proud to work side by side with his daughter, Kathy, building a church and helping the people of Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 1989.
In his retirement, George chose to “Do God’s work for free.” He focused on building houses with Habitat for Humanity, and established an aluminum recycling program in Yuma, Arizon, a which earned national recognition and acclaim, featured in both Country Living magazine and USA Today. During the years he wintered there, Habitat of Yuma built 37 homes, with proceeds from George’s recycling vision and the amazing dedication of the people who worked with him.
He was preceded into new life by his parents Rex and Louise, his brother Jack Gibson, his sister Marilyn Gaylor, and his son Allan Gibson.
Those left to cherish his memory and continue his legacy to the world include his wife of sixty-three years, Sally, of Indianola; children, Margy (Mike) McCarthy of Centerville, Iowa, Kathy Glanz of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Deanne Gibson of Sioux City, Iowa; his six grandchildren, Nicole (Calvin) Stitt, of Jacksonville, Florida, Hillary (Daniel) Duncan of Sioux City, Iowa, Michael (Briana Aurilio) McCarthy of Flagstaff, Arizona, Zachary Glanz of West Des Moines, Iowa, Madeline McCarthy of Indianola, Iowa, and Isaac Glanz of West Des Moines, Iowa; two great-grandchildren, Samantha and Marcus Allan Stitt, as well as two beloved sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held 10:30 a.m., May 28, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church in Indianola. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m., May 27 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Habitat for Humanity, First United Methodist Church for United Methodist Committee on Relief. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/