Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
BurialArlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Drive, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia [16170]
Spouses
DeathFeb 21, 2006 [16168]
BurialArlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Drive, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia [16168]
FlagsUS Army, World War II
FatherHenry Ellis GIBBS (1871-1956)
MotherIda Medoria GERRINGER (1878-1926)
MarriageMay 19, 1944 [289]
Obituary Online notes for Royce Louis (Spouse 1)
NOT Royce Lidell or LeDale Gibbs, son of Henry Gibbs.
Major Royce Louis Gibbs, U.S. Army, Retired, 88, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006. He was a native of Burlington, N.C., and had been a Peninsula resident for more than 50 years.
He attended High Point College in High Point, N.C. He started his military career in the National Guard and then joined the Army and completed five tours of overseas duty during his 29 years of service, retiring in 1963. During WWII, Major Gibbs commanded an Infantry Rifle Company with the 86th Division. In the spring of 1945, he led his rifle company in combat operations in the Ruhr Industrial Region. His unit pursued the enemy into Germany. Toward the end of the war, his unit, the 86th Division, spearheaded Patton's 3rd Army into Bavaria in a rapid sweep of 16 days, covering 110 miles and crossing six major rivers. For his combat services in Germany, he was awarded the Bronze Star for his personal bravery and fearless initiative. The Bronze Star citation reads: 'Because of his knowledge of tactics and outstanding courage, he completely surprised the enemy on numerous occasions, forced them to surrender, and allowed his battalion to reach its objective. Casualties were kept to a minimum because of his brilliant deployment of troops.' After WWII, he served two tours in Germany, traveling with his wife, Elaine, and children to work in Munich and Bremerhaven. In between these tours, Major Gibbs was stationed at Magg, Taiwan, China. He was the U.S. Army Transportation Advisor to the Nationalist Chinese Army Transportation Service. He also served unaccompanied tours in Greenland.
After his military retirement, he worked as a property manager in real estate. For recreation he enjoyed coin collecting, was a talented woodworker, and produced a wonderful vegetable garden.
Survivors include three children, Melissa Burnette and her husband, Michael, of Newport News, Marilyn Kinkel and her husband, Ted, of Severna Park, Md., and Royce L. Gibbs Jr. and his wife, Grace, of Ocala, Fla.; four grandchildren, Bryan Trevor Kinkel and his wife, Suzanne, of Berwyn, Pa., Elaine Claire Bixby and her husband, Dr. Walter Bixby, of Mebane, N.C., Jordan Ross Burnette and Laurel Blythe Burnette, both of Newport News; and two great-grandchildren, Grace Margaret Kinkel and Ellyn Ross Kinkel.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Ross Gibbs; a son, David Ross Gibbs; and granddaughter, Amber Gibbs.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, in Menchville Baptist Church with the Rev. James C. Weston officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Monday, March 27, in Arlington National Cemetery.
Brother Richard Ellis Gibbs of Ms (#43983350) [16168]
Major Royce Louis Gibbs, U.S. Army, Retired, 88, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006. He was a native of Burlington, N.C., and had been a Peninsula resident for more than 50 years.
He attended High Point College in High Point, N.C. He started his military career in the National Guard and then joined the Army and completed five tours of overseas duty during his 29 years of service, retiring in 1963. During WWII, Major Gibbs commanded an Infantry Rifle Company with the 86th Division. In the spring of 1945, he led his rifle company in combat operations in the Ruhr Industrial Region. His unit pursued the enemy into Germany. Toward the end of the war, his unit, the 86th Division, spearheaded Patton's 3rd Army into Bavaria in a rapid sweep of 16 days, covering 110 miles and crossing six major rivers. For his combat services in Germany, he was awarded the Bronze Star for his personal bravery and fearless initiative. The Bronze Star citation reads: 'Because of his knowledge of tactics and outstanding courage, he completely surprised the enemy on numerous occasions, forced them to surrender, and allowed his battalion to reach its objective. Casualties were kept to a minimum because of his brilliant deployment of troops.' After WWII, he served two tours in Germany, traveling with his wife, Elaine, and children to work in Munich and Bremerhaven. In between these tours, Major Gibbs was stationed at Magg, Taiwan, China. He was the U.S. Army Transportation Advisor to the Nationalist Chinese Army Transportation Service. He also served unaccompanied tours in Greenland.
After his military retirement, he worked as a property manager in real estate. For recreation he enjoyed coin collecting, was a talented woodworker, and produced a wonderful vegetable garden.
Survivors include three children, Melissa Burnette and her husband, Michael, of Newport News, Marilyn Kinkel and her husband, Ted, of Severna Park, Md., and Royce L. Gibbs Jr. and his wife, Grace, of Ocala, Fla.; four grandchildren, Bryan Trevor Kinkel and his wife, Suzanne, of Berwyn, Pa., Elaine Claire Bixby and her husband, Dr. Walter Bixby, of Mebane, N.C., Jordan Ross Burnette and Laurel Blythe Burnette, both of Newport News; and two great-grandchildren, Grace Margaret Kinkel and Ellyn Ross Kinkel.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Ross Gibbs; a son, David Ross Gibbs; and granddaughter, Amber Gibbs.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, in Menchville Baptist Church with the Rev. James C. Weston officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Monday, March 27, in Arlington National Cemetery.
Brother Richard Ellis Gibbs of Ms (#43983350) [16168]