William R. Gibson, age 90, of El Paso, Texas died Thursday, August 13, 2009 at home. He was born October 1, 1918 in Muskegon, Michigan to William R. (Sr) and Celeste Yanke Gibson, and married Gladis R. Kitchens June 4, 1949.
Bill Gibson delivered telegrams as a young man before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the First Infantry Division, the Big Red One, and fought in WWII, notably during the Battle of the Bulge and Liberation of Paris. Because he knew how to play the trumpet, he served as bugler for his company. Suffering from dysentery and hepatitis during the march into Paris, Bill spent months recovering in a Red Cross Hospital in Europe. Later, he served as a military guard to prisoners of the Nuremberg War Crimes trial.
After the war, Bill attended and graduated from Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, Missouri. This is where he met and married his wife of sixty years, Gladis. Together they became missionaries with the Gospel Missionary Union, now Avant Ministries, and in 1950, after missionary orientation and Bill’s ordination, they traveled to Ecuador, S.A. Bill and Gladis served as missionaries to the Shuar people in the eastern Amazonian jungles of Ecuador for 18 years. There, using music to help them communicate God’s message, they helped translate the Bible into the native language, developed churches, schools and provided basic medical and dental care.
In 1968, the Gibson family returned to the U.S., Dunedin, Florida, where Bill completed a year in seminary, earning his BA in Education (Theology). They again traveled to South America, this time serving for three years in Colombia, ministering the people of that country. Bill and Gladis returned to the United States, settling in El Paso, Texas, where Bill served as mission director for the area for 20 years, actively working in Juarez and Chihuahua for ten of those years. During this time, he and Gladis also temporarily relocated to Haines, Alaska, where he served as interim pastor of a church there.
Bill served as co-pastor at Grace Chapel in El Paso since 1990, and he continued to be active with his Jesus Team ministry at Pallisades and later, Village Oaks Assisted Living Centers, and his local Bible Class until a few short weeks before he passed away.
Known for his great sense of humor, his lifelong love of Jesus Christ, his teaching stories and simple messages, Bill was fond of practical jokes and telling tall tales. He published a humorous periodical for their many friends and supporters for many years; The Flat Tortilla was filled with anecdotes and always included a message of faith. A self taught photographer, he took many notable photographs throughout his long missionary career, having learned to develop his own film while stationed in the jungles of Ecuador. He enjoyed traveling, music, nature and wildlife, and he had a daily practice of prayer, Bible study and devotions.
Bill is survived by Gladis, their two daughters, Shirley and Grace, his twin sister Enid (Peggy) Anderson, three grandchildren, three great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A hallmark of Bill’s adventurous life were his long jungle treks, lasting for many days, chopping his way through unmarked territory with a machete, taking the teachings of Jesus Christ to those in need. Even in later years, he was a great walker, striking off happily down roads, trails and railroad tracks, most often alone with his thoughts and his inspirations. No doubt many of his messages were formed during these solitary walks with Jesus, and his marker at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery will be inscribed, He Walks With Jesus, as a way to remember this pastime and envision his new life in Heaven. Bill’s family and his many friends are deeply grateful for his life, a life lived so well and with so much faith, service and devotion; they will remember him in prayer and song at a memorial service at Grace Chapel on August 18, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
...Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints...
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