Lewis Oran Gibbs

Lewis Oran Gibbs, 81, of Higginsville, Mo. passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at Fitzgibbons Hospital in Marshall. Mo. He was born Sept. 19, 1931, in Farber, Mo., the son of Lewis Waldo and Eliza Josephine Crockett Gibbs. He was united in marriage to Marilyn Louise Blumhorst Hoflander on Jan. 25, 1990, who survives of the home. Lewis retired June 1, 1971, after 23 years of honorable service in the United States Army. He enlisted Oct. 11, 1948, at Fulton, Missouri. He attained the rank of Command Sergeant Major (CSM) with the pay grade of E-9. The CSM is the senior enlisted member of an Army battalion-sized unit, and serves as a special advisor to the commanding officer. The CSM is also the senior representative of the enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers serving under him. His assignments led him to Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, Vietnam, Korea, and two extensive tours in Germany among other places. His personal awards include the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal (4 awards), Army of Occupation Medal, and various other campaign medals. After his retirement from the military, Lewis, an avid golfer, lived in Yorktown, Va. For more than 20 years, he owned and operated Virginia Golf Cars and Batteries in Newport News, Va., retiring again in September 1996. He was a Mason and a lifetime member of Monitor Lodge No. 197 in Hampton, Va., where he was a former master of his lodge. He also served as District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. 14-A. He was a lifetime member of the National Sojourners and the Heroes of '76, with which he performed many flag-building ceremonies throughout Virginia. Lewis was a former member of the Khedive Shrine Temple, past master of the Warwick Royal Arch Chapter #80 and past master of Ashlar Lodge #894. In 2000, Marilyn and Lewis moved to Higginsville where Lewis was an active member of the community. He served on the Higginsville Park Board and was a member of the Higginsville Masonic Lodge, a member of the Ararat Shrine Temple, a former member of the Lafayette County Shrine Club and a former member of the Higginsville Optimist Club. He was an active member of the Higginsville Methodist Church and the Methodist Men. In addition to his wife, Lewis will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by five children: Clyde (Ronnie) Gibbs of Nashville, Tenn.; Darren (Shannon) Gibbs of Miami, Fla.; Keven (Heather) Hoflander of Higginsville, Mo.; Patty Jones of Milton, Fla. and Camie (Tony) Bolletta of Polk City, Iowa.; eight grandchildren: Jeremy Jarrett, Stacy (Justin) Rogers, Halen Hoflander, Avery Hoflander, Alec Bolletta, Cole Bolletta, Ashton Bolletta and Charlie Gibbs; two great-grandchildren: Destinee Anthony and James Barlow; a brother, Larry (Mary) Gibbs of Fulton, Mo.; four sisters: Jane Glasford of Fulton, Mo.; Janet (Chuck) Foster of Lohman, Mo.; Faye Ann Jackson of Texas and Jill Atterberry of Fulton, Mo. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Margaret; a daughter, Donna Jo; four brothers and one sister. A Masonic service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18 at Grace United Methodist Church in Higginsville with visitation to follow at 1 p.m. and funeral services at 2 p.m. Pastor Kyle Evans will officiate. Burial will be in the Higginsville Veterans Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers are Michael Hupp, Isaac Christy, Rick Wood, Brian Cornelius, Rod Kirchhoff and Chris Blumhorst. Honorary pallbearers are Doyle Weatherman, Jim Perrine, Dale Replogle, Tim Shillingberg, Roscoe Hupp, and members of the Higginsville Park Board. In lieu of flowers, suggested memorials are Grace United Methodist Church or St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Online condolences may be sent at www.hoeferfuneralhome.com

Lewis Oran Gibbs

September 19, 1931 - January 15, 2013