ETHEL DUNNING GIBSON
Ethel Dunning Gibson passed peacefully on August 22, 2022. She self-described her 96 years as “a wonderful life”. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Ernie. She is survived by her three children (Ernie III, Kathy, Diane), six grandchildren (Lee, Liz, Rebekah, Jack, Carrie, Luke),
three great-grandchildren (Lyndsie Anne, Chloe, Gabriel), and her dear, loving sister Katherine Nadler of Baton Rouge, LA.
Ethel was born in Vicksburg, MS, on the first day of spring in 1926. She was raised in her Granny’s home and had wonderful memories of her early years there as the only child surrounded by doting adults. Her uncle brought her home a raccoon for a pet. Her nurse took her to the river and helped her trap a feral kitten in a gunny sack which she named “LucyGrandpa.” When she was nine, her family moved to Baton Rouge, LA, and her dear sister was born. Her great childhood joys were reading and swimming.
When a freshman at LSU she met Ernie Gibson who was in a group of Army soldiers housed in the LSU stadium. They both maintained it was “love at first sight”. They married in 1944 and moved to California where they were stationed at Fort Ord. When Ernie shipped out to war, Ethel returned to Baton Rouge to have their first child. Returning from the war, they tried to live in San Francisco, a city Ernie loved. But, in those days, no one would rent to a young family with a baby, so they returned to Ernie’s hometown, Oroville.
Ethel was a busy homemaker, raising three children and working part-time at Gibson’s Pharmacy. She became an accomplished cook, gracious hostess, skilled gardener and excellent golfer. She joined Omega Nu and became a founding member of the first area Children’s Home Society. She participated in fundraising events (spaghetti dinners, variety shows, etc.) to help Ernie and his friends raise enough money to build the first 9-holes of the Oroville golf course. They travelled when they could to play golf and snorkel. Her favorite trips included: Fiji, New Zealand, England and Wales, Hawaii and the Cayman Islands.
In 2004 Ethel and Ernie moved to Chico and continued their love of golf. There Ethel became an enthusiastic volunteer at the Chico Library. She is remembered for her laughter and lively book discussions in her Southern drawl. She and her friends regularly met for wild games of Mexican Train dominos. She continued her painting classes and her curious mind led her to many OSHER classes. Old and new friends, even strangers, will long-remember her friendly smile, kind and courteous ways she offered everyone she met.
Her family thanks the kind and caring professionals at Windchime of Chico and Butte Home Health & Hospice. Donations in her name can be made to: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (1430 Pine St., Oroville, CA 95965) or Chico Friends of the Li brary.
(www.chicolibrary.org)