Lewis Gibson

Lewis Gibson was born on a farm in Gray, Kentucky on October 25, 1918. His parents, James and Ida Lewis, were sharecroppers and Lewis learned at early age that a typical day on the farm in the 1920s and 1930 required great efforts by horse or hand and lasted from dawn to dusk. During the year of his birth the United States was engaged in World War I which would cost over 115,000 American lives, many from Lewis’ home state of Kentucky. During this same time period the Spanish Flue Pandemic swept away an estimated 50-100 million lives world wide, including Lewis’ two year old sister, Edna. As Lewis continued to work his father’s farm, he dreamt of the big city and an opportunity to venture out into the world. The opportunity arrived when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941 launching the United States into World War II. Shortly after the attack, Lewis joined the U.S. Army in which he served with distinction until the end of the war in 1945. He participated in the initial invasion of the Philippines at Leyte Gulf and was present when General Douglas McArthur fulfilled his promise "I shall return" on October 20, 1944 which the general had made two and one half years earlier when the Japanese invasion had forced him to flee the islands. Lewis demonstrated great bravery in the execution of his assignment during the many battles for it was his job to locate the enemy lines as the American troops drove the retreating Japanese soldiers back. He met enemy fire on a daily basis and was very fortunate to be neither wounded nor killed in action. After the defeat of the Japanese in the Philippines, Lewis served in the U.S. liberation of Papua New Guinea where again he served with distinction. After the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945, Lewis was selected to serve in the U.S. forces which occupied Japan after the end of the war. During this period he drove U.S. officers to and from General McArthur’s headquarters in Tokyo where the planning of the reconstruction of Japan and the Japanese government was taking place. After the war, he met and later married Thelma Mae McIntyre on October 19, 1949 in Maysville, Kentucky. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents James and Ida, his son John Geary Gibson and his wife Thelma Mae. He is survived by his loving daughter Linda (Larry) Gill of Hamilton, Ohio, a grandson Chad Rich of Homosassa, Florida and a granddaughter, Kim (Kevin) Manigan of Longmont, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his sister Helen Elliot, brothers Everette Gibson, Howard Gibson and James Gibson. He is survived by his beloved wife of 20 years Anna Kelly Gibson, sister Leora Jackson, Harrodsburg, Kentucky, brother Leonard (Rosemary) Gibson, Radcliff, Kentucky and many nieces, nephews and friends. Lewis was employed by the Ohio Bus Company and Miami University as a mechanic and electrician. He was also a lifelong member of the VFW Post 5782 of Elwood, Indiana. As a soldier in WWII who helped save the world from dictatorship and totalitarianism, he may certainly be included as a member of America’s greatest generation. Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 12:30 PM at the Brown Dawson Flick Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Avenue, Hamilton. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 from 11 AM until time of service (12:30 PM) at the funeral home. Online condolences can be made at browndawsonflick.com