Harry S. Gibson

b. 10/8/30, Chevy Chase, Montgomery County, MD; d. 9/5/10 Falls Church, Fairfax County, VA Second child of Alice Hastings Smith and William Wilson Gibson Educated in St. Albans private school and District of Columbia Public Schools: Oyster Elem., Gordon JH, and Western HS. Harry was most proud of being in Western's stage crew and in winning top marks in the Cadet Corps. In high school he was active in DeMolay. His education was interrupted with the call up of the DC National Guard into the Korean Action. Upon his return he went into the family business of Medical and Surgical Supplies where he worked for 20 years. When the business was sold he worked for People's Drug Stores, Drug Fair stores, and Boyles Furniture Store as manager at several different locations. He finally worked for Fairfax County Public Schools for over 25 years in the Supply Division. Early in his life he joined Fourth Presbyterian Church where he was president of the Collegiate Conquerors. He was active in Youth for Christ, Christian Endeavor city-wide. After his marriage in 1954 to Christine Tucker, he moved to Virginia where he was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church for ten years, Bush Hill United Presbyterian Church for twenty years, and finally Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, serving as deacon and/or elder in each of those locations. He taught Sunday school, worked with the men's groups, the couples' groups, was a summer counselor at Camp Glenkirk, and served on various committees such as Building and Grounds, and Worship committees in the churches. He bowled with the Church Men's Bowling League. He was active in the Gideons, served regularly at Miriam's Kitchen and volunteered often at Koinonia. For more than 35 years he visited the Fairfax County Detention Center weekly for the Jail Ministry. He was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria. In 2000 and 2004 he participated in the national Census. For several years after official retirement, he worked in the office for one son in the electrical contracting business. He was always interested in whatever activities his sons were involved in, with membership in the support organizations behind Cub, Boy, and Explorer Scouts, The Order of the Arrow, Little League Baseball, Swim Team, Edison HS Marching Band, Athletic Boosters, and PTA. Other interests included belonging to the National Historical Railroad Society in restoration of the club's Dover Harbor club car and taking trips on steam trains. His love of antique cars resulted in ownership and display of several through the years with his having restored the 1941 Chevrolet Club Coupe to its national Antique Automobile Club of America and Chevrolet Club of America top awards. He maintained his 1964 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop in its original condition to win the top preservations awards in both clubs. He was a long time member of several car clubs serving in leadership positions specifically in the Bull Run Region AACA and in the Old Dominion CCA. He enjoyed "birding" with his wife. For several years he served as a foster parent to needy children through the Alexandria social services system. When all of his sons were out of the house he began working with foreign student exchange organizations like AFS and YFC, and others. Most students stayed for the entire school year: Kirsi Parkkinen, from Finland; Beatrice from France; Jarkko Tuominen from Finland; Tülay Schakir, from Finland; Berit Arnestad from Norway and later Berit's brother Sven Arnestad; Sari Haasma from Finland; Linda Johnsen from Norway; Sunanda Ranefors from Sweden; Katja Järvelä from Finland; Kati Luoma from Finland. Sunanda was a lovely Indian girl adopted by Swedish parents. Tülay's parentage was Turkish. There were several other short-term students as well from assorted other places like Germany, South Africa, and Australia, and extended visits by siblings or relatives. Harry made two trips to Scandinavia to visit most of them. Interestingly, most of these students have been highly successful in their professions: Kirsi is an architect; Jarkko is Vice President and General Manager of Technical Products for Walki Group; Tülay is an artist of note; Berit is a quality assurance officer with in the pharmaceutical industry and her brother Sven is a strategic marketing advisor, now starting his own company; Sari married an American and now lives in Maryland; Linda returned to the US on a Fulbright Scholarship in languages. Katja worked with CNN for a while; Sunanda married a Finn; Kati works in banking. Harry made friends easily and cared deeply about them. He kept most of his friends for life. He shared his faith openly and in retirement was a regular participant in the McDonald's "mission field" at Rose Hill Shopping Center. Harry is survived by Christine, his wife of over 56 years, and three sons: Scott, wife Janie, daughters Jenna and Sierra Gibson; Mark, wife Marguerite, daughters Melanie, Monica and Marcella Gibson; Lowell, wife Cindy, daughters Jessica Oien, Valerie, Reagan, and son Nathan Gibson He is also survived by his elder brother, William Wilson Gibson, jr., and wife Ernestine.

Tributes

Harry S. Gibson

October 8, 1930 - September 5, 2010