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- Frank E. Gibbs Jr.
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2012
MANNSVILLE - The funeral for Frank E. Gibbs, Jr. will be 10 am Wednesday, June 6th at the Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home, Belleville, with Rev. Leon "Toby" Schilling officiating. Burial will follow in the Ellisburg Cemetery with military honors. Calling hours are Tuesday, June 5th from 4 pm - 7 pm at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to the So. Jefferson Rescue Squad or to the VFW Post 5344, Adams, NY 13605.
Mr. Gibbs, 94, of the Van Wormer Rd., Mannsville, passed away Friday evening, June 1st at the Veterans Hospital in Syracuse.
He was born in Woodville, February 25, 1918, a son to Frank and Nellie Williams Gibbs, Sr. He was educated at Union Academy of Belleville. Frank worked as a truck driver for H.E. Machold Farms in Ellisburg. He was drafted into the Army April 15, 1942, declining the draft deferment. He departed Boston Harbor on Labor Day, 1944, arriving in France on September 15th. He was assigned to the 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion 106th Infantry (Golden Lions). Frank participated in military maneuvers in France, Belgium. Frank was captured December 19, 1944 near the Belgium-German border during the Battle of the Bulge. He was transported to Stalag 9B in Germany. He was liberated the day after Easter, April 2, 1945. While captive, Frank lost 60 pounds due to malnutrition, no medical care or heat in the barracks. Frank spent 5 weeks recuperating in France and shipped home aboard a hospital ship with 5,500 other soldiers.
Frank was discharged October 19, 1945 at Fort McPherson, GA. He was awarded the POW Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 3 bronze stars.
Following his discharge from the Army, Frank returned to the North Country, working on several farms in the Belleville-Ellisburg area to include, the Machold Farms, Lawrence and Fulton farms. In 1954 he purchased the Collins Bates farm on the Green Settlement Road. He sold the farm in 1961. Frank worked for the New York Air Brake Co. in Watertown from 1966 until retiring in 1974.
Frank was a life member of the VFW Post 5344 Adams, DAV Chapter 18, Watertown.
He married Dorotha Jackson March 5, 1943 in Killeen, TX. They divorced in 1968.
Frank is survived by four sons, Neil (Pam) Gibbs, Hannibal; Wayne Gibbs, Ellisburg; Frank Gibbs, Clyde; Paul (Cindy) Gibbs, Adams Center. Three daughters, Anita (Duane) Petrie, Belleville; Rhonda (Ronald) Furman, Clyde; Terri (Keith) Butler, Waterloo. 17 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a half-sister, Virginia Catalina and a step brother, Ken Joy.
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1918 - 2012 (94 years)