Randall Gibson

Randall Dwight Gibson was born to Caroline Cynthia Cobb Gibson and Dwight Frederick Gibson on February 6th, 1935 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When he was about 3 years old the family moved to Norfolk, Virginia for Dwight to work as a weatherman at the local airport. The Gibson family included his older sister Juanita, as well as younger siblings, Leo, Charles, Dorothy, and Susan.

After growing up in Norfolk, Randall enrolled first at Old Dominion University then finished his BS degree in electrical engineering at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, in 1958.

An internship opportunity brought Randall to Silver Spring Maryland after graduation to work for Vitro Corp. He went on to work for Vitro on the Polaris missile testing project until his retirement in 1994. During his time at Vitro, Dad took his family to Hampton, New Hampshire for a year-long assignment working with the submarines. He also was awarded a ring, a grandfather clock, and other special mementos for his many years of dedicated service.

While in Silver Spring Randall attended First Baptist Church of Silver Spring, where he met his life-long friend, George Kidd.

While attending a Baptist Student Union Christmas party at the University of Maryland, Randall met Bonnie Lee West. Randall was invited through his connection with the Baptist Student Union at George Washington University where he was completing his master’s degree in electrical engineering.

Randall and Bonnie were married in 1965 and grew their family with 4 children: David, Nancy, Daniel, and Steven.

Dad enjoyed driving, especially long car trips, and took his family each summer to different states, staying with friends and relatives, in roadside motels, or in the tent at a campground.

Dad, the engineer, built many things for his family over the years, including a two-level treehouse in the weeping willow tree in the backyard, a custom-designed wooden wagon to pull the morning newspapers around the neighborhood, and a big white box for the top of the car… to hold that tent.

And of course Dad always had his black electrical tape handy and was able to patch up most any household disaster with that, or if absolutely necessary, the grey duct tape.

Dad was faithful. He attended Sunday services and Wednesday night family dinners for years at First Baptist Church of Wheaton. He served as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher. He later had membership at Montgomery Hills Baptist Church where he also enjoyed serving and fellowship. His last church membership was at Rockville United Church (RUC) where his kindness, gentleness, and patience were his legacy.

Dad’s hobbies and interests included, reading and movies, sightseeing, and explaining mathematical equations, problems, and puzzles on the table napkins waiting for dinner whenever the family was out to eat.

He drank coffee daily, until his kidney disease caused him to stop, usually ordered a hamburger, and always was a “yes” for ice cream, mostly vanilla but occasionally butter pecan. Mom over the years made approximately 57 german chocolate cakes for his birthday celebrations.

He walked fast. He also walked the babies, his own and then his 8 grandchildren as well as various others he met along the way. He had a way of pacing with a bounce, and a soothing babble which usually did the trick. Dad was always good for holding a baby and in later years he napped right along with the sleeping baby.

Randall was preceded in death by his parents, Dwight and Caroline, and siblings, Juanita Kaputska, Leo Gibson, Charles Gibson, Dorothy McCarty, and Susan Renz.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and children, David (Ani) Gibson, Nancy (Mike) Morin, Daniel (Jeaninne) Gibson, and Steve Gibson. His grandchildren: Grant, Gwen, and Gavin Gibson; Grace, Henry, Jack, and Macy Morin; and Vivienne Gibson. 

Randall has many, many nieces, nephews, their spouses, and families, as well as an extensive loving family through his marriage to Bonnie, her siblings and cousins and their extended families.