William J. 'Gibbie' Gibson, Union Valley Rd., Wampum, passed away peacefully at 12:02 p.m. on Tuesday (11-17-09) in Jameson Hospital following an extended illness. He was 74.

He was born on October 18, 1935 in New Castle the son of Merle Gibson.

A lifelong area resident, he graduated from Shenango High School in 1954.

He retired from the former Remacor in West Pittsburgh (Taylor Twp.) after 15 years of service.

He was an accomplished carpenter who loved his trade and was actively working until this past spring.

Gibbie was an outdoorsman and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and simply roaming the Allegheny National Forest where he spent many happy years creating wonderful memories while enjoying his family hunting camp.

His wife the former Joan L. Schweikert whom he married December 11, 1971 survives in the home that her husband built and where they raised their family.

He also leaves his son, Jeffrey Gibson and his wife Diane of Canonsburg, his daughter Crystal Couch and her husband Steve of Minerva, Ohio, and his son Colonel Matthew Bartlett and his wife Sharon of Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Taryn Sheehan and her husband Ryan, Jonathon Gibson, Nicholas Gibson, Kyle Gibson, Justin Gibson and Cary Couch, RJ and Rachel Grygier.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, 3208 Wilmington Rd Ste B, New Castle, PA 16105

Calling hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday (11-20-09) and from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday (11-21-09) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 111 West Falls Street, New Castle.

A funeral service will be conducted in the funeral home chapel at 10:00 a.m. Saturday with the Rev. Fr. John Petrarulo, pastor of St .Vitus Church officiating.

Condolences may be sent by visiting the web site www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com