GIBBS, Barbara Lois (Humphrey) - b. September 19, 1924 - d. September 25, 2021

[patyrn]

Barbara Lois Gibbs, daughter of Jesse P. and Nellie (Aitken) Humphrey, was born September 19, 1924 at the family home in Gypsum, Kansas.  She went to be with the Savior on September 25, 2021 at the age of 97.

Barbara was a child of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression era.  She graduated from Gypsum High School in 1942.  At the age of 18, she traveled to California to marry her beloved husband of 78 years, Richard Gibbs, on July 15, 1943.  While Richard was serving overseas during World War II, their first child, a daughter, Terry, was born.  Barbara worked numerous jobs during this time including work as a welder and parachute packer.  She went on to raise four more children.

During their life together, Barbara and Richard visited all fifty states, traveled to Mexico, rode a motorcycle across the country in their 60s, and t the age of 78, they backpacked to Guatemala.  Every winter for 25 years, they would travel to California in their motorhome and live off the grid.  Barbara also enjoyed running, and up until the last couple of years, on their daily, rain or shine, 2-mile walk, she would often run the last 100 yards of their walk.  She also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and never missed sending a birthday care that would arrive like clockwork in the mail the day before their birthday.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Richard of Centralia, Kansas; four children, Tom (Sandy) Gibbs, Barbara "Barbi" (Edd) Swink, Jeannie (Cole) Conard, and Don (Michelle) Gibbs; 13 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother; one sister; and her beloved daughter, Terry.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Centralia Community Church in Centralia, Kansas on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.

(published in the Eureka Herald - 10/06/2021)