More detail on this person: Lieutenant Colonel Walter Melvin Bud Gibbs, USMC, Retired, was born
in Jacksonville, Florida on October 24th, 1943. He passed away peacefully at home under Hospice Care
surrounded by family, friends and loved ones on May 31st, 2015. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs was a decorated
military veteran and United States Marine Corps Aviator, who served his country honorably. He was
preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Gibbs and Mildred Simms Gibbs, and daughter, Michele
Jansen. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 45 years, Luanne Marie Gibbs, daughter Beth Summerlin
(Ray), sister Audrey Dale Gibbs, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. His named
grandchildren are: Meagan Wolfson (Andrew), Bryan Jansen, Lauren Jansen, Tim Summerlin (April),
Mary Lunsford (Weston), and Andrew Summerlin and recently born great-granddaughter, Avery Grace
Lunsford. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs is a 1961 Graduate of Dupont High School and a 1965 Graduate of the
University of Georgia with a BA in Business Administration. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha
fraternity and entered the United States Marine Corps upon completion of Officer Candidate School in
December 1965. He entered the Basic School in Quantico, VA and graduated in May 1966. He
completed flight training in Pensacola, FL November 1967. After operational training, he was
assigned to VMO-2 Squadron in Vietnam as a Helicopter Gunship Pilot. After serving meritoriously in
Vietnam, he continued his faithful 21 year career of military service. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs
honorably retired on December 1986, after completing his service with the Fleet Marine Force Pacific
located in Okinawa, Japan. Lt. Col. W. M. Gibbs awards include: the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air
Medal w/ 1 Star, the Bronze Star w/ V for Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential
Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment
Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross, Republic of Vietnam
Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Action, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Lt. Col. W. M.
Gibbs also maintained an Expert Qualification with both the M-16 Rifle and the .38 caliber Pistol
throughout his military career. He was a tried and true patriot who loved and supported the military
as well as the foundation of our United States Constitution--all of his living days. He was greatly
loved and will be tremendously missed by his entire family, close friends and neighbors. A funeral
celebrating his life will be held at Hardage Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin on June 10th, 2015 at
2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the following organizations in
honor of Lt. Col. Walter Melvin Gibbs, USMC, Retired: Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, 909 N.
Washington St. Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314 *Online giving visit https://my.mcsf.org/2014/donate
Community Hospice Care, 4114 Sunbeam Road, Bldg. 400, Jacksonville, Florida 32257
communityhospice.com Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral
Home of Mandarin 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223 www.hgmandarin.com (904)288-0025
Published in the Florida Times-Union on June 7, 2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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