Robert Wallace GIBSON

GIBSON, HARVEY, JOSEPHSON, BURKE, PRICE, EDGE, ASHFORD, MANLEY, KOLPACOFF

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/4/2015 at 14:41:05

May 18, 1918 --- April 21, 2004

Bar pilot, 85 Robert "Bob" Wallace Gibson of Astoria, died Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at his home in Astoria. He was born May 18, 1918 in Eagle Grove, Iowa to Herman Elbert and Gladys Harvey Gibson. Mr. Gibson was a graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy and became a captain at the age of 27. He served in World War II and the Korean War on naval and merchant marine vessels. He moved to Astoria in 1964 to become a Columbia River Bar Pilot after working as a tanker captain for Richfield Oil and serving as Port Captain at Long Beach harbor.

In December 1990, he married Nancy Josephson at the Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, Calif. She survives, residing in Astoria and San Diego. Since their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have spent springs and summers in Astoria and falls and winters in San Diego. Family members remember Mr. Gibson as a modest gentleman extraordinaire; a man of destinations who always enjoyed the journey. He was an accomplished master mariner by trade. He was drawn to adventure and traveled through life with spontaneity, playful humor and love of a good wager. He was liked by all and was a mentor to many and a leader of men. He was a lifelong learner, read every day and was captivated by history and politics. His passions were his family, friends, golf and the seas. He dearly loved Astoria and his life on the Columbia River. He was a member of The Council of American Master Mariners and the Astoria Golf & Country Club.

Family and friends say this "classy guy" will be dearly missed and as they remember him, they think of this quote: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Sharon Burke of Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Roberta and Chester Edge of Lake Sinclair, Ga.; two step-daughters and son-in-laws; Cheryl and Dan Price of San Diego and Susan and Randy Ashford of Soldotna, Alaska; two granddaughters, Meghan and Ali Burke of Kingston, Ontario, Canada; a step-grandson, Steven Manley of Soldotna, Alaska; and a sister and brother-in-law, Betty June and Al Kolpacoff of Orange, Calif. A celebration of life service was held last Saturday at the Columbia House. The family has planned a burial at sea. Memorial contributions in Captain Gibson's honor may be made to the Lower Columbia Hospice, 2111 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103.

April 26, 2004
The Daily Astorian - Astoria, Oregon