Happy Birthday Dad!

Shari and Kati are busy in their careers and your great grandchildren Marcus Gibson, Lucie Eilene and Shelby are exited with all that life has to offer.

Thad started his own business and doing well. Cheryl is happy in retirement and enjoying your many great grandchildren from Trevor.

Got the sad news your sister Eleanor passed about a week ago.

Love you Dad!
Brock

Thinking of you today on your birthday

Happy 90th Heavenly Birthday Dad!

Recall we celebrated your 60th together at Green Flag ‘90. One of our favorite memories was you getting kicked out of the casino because you were holding SharI and at 3, she wasn’t old enough to gamble.

Love you!

It’s been six years now Dad and it still seems like yesterday. Perhaps because not a day goes by that we aren’t reflecting in someway on your incredible life here on earth.

You’d be very pleased to know that this year Kati had another great granddaughter of yours. Luci is such a bundle of joy and sharp as a tack. Definitely has your gene pool. She marvels at the display of excitement and energy of her big brother Marcus Gibson Miletich, middle name IHO of you,

Equally exciting is the news we received that Shari will be brining you another great granddaughter in March. Shari is very much enjoying motherhood and has already chosen the name, Shelby.

Doesn’t seem that long ago that you were teaching them to ski the mountain as tiny tots. Now they are all grown with our grandchildren who could use a lesson or two soon.

All are well here. June still amazes us. Living independently in the dream home you both created. Cheryl retired from teaching this year. Thad still burning up the track in his career. As always, Diana and I are busy with projects on the house and property.

Miss you and love you so much!
Brock, Diana, Shari, Kati and the rest of the Gibson Clan

Greetings to the Gibson clan. I meant to post the attached obit from the New English Review here shortly after McCain died. When I was writing, I couldn't resist comparing John Jr, with Hoot and his wing man, a gallant aviator who never made it back from the POW camps. Hoot Gibson and John McCain might be from the same state, but there the comparison ends. Bless you all.

https://www.newenglishreview.org/G_Murphy_Donovan/Codicils_for_Coffins%3A_Trump_vs_McCain/

Miss you Dad. All is well here. Along with your namesake great grandson Marcus Gibson Miletich, Kati is going to be giving you another great grandchild this summer! You’d be pleased to know Marcus is already amazed by all things aircraft. Perhaps he’ll “get jets” one of these days day and keep the Gibson aviation lineage alive!

Happy 88th Birthday in heaven Dad! We continue to hold our fond memories of you close in our hearts. You were such an inspiration to so many and we miss you more than ever. Nickel in the grass to you!
Love,
Brock, Diana, Shari, Kati and Marcus

Cheryl and Brock,
Just found your Dad's memorial site. I knew Hoot in Hawaii while he was at Hickam, sometime between 1968 and 1971. I believe he was TDY to XO at PACAF HQ. We were both between Vietnam tours. He was one of the nicest, kindest, hot shot fighter pilots in the Air Force. I remember him well because he was legend among his peers, and the first to spring for a round at the Barefoot Bar at Ft Derussy in Waikiki or the O Club at Pearl.
He was, I believe, a major at the time whilst I was a lieutenant. We used to compare our disparate experiences, the very different lives of Intel guys who fragged the missions and guys like your Dad who flew them. Your Dad was above all else a nice human being, a raconteur who loved to hear the other guy's story.
You meet a lot of folks along life's road, few are memorable. Hoot was an exception. You were blessed to have him in your life.
G. Murphy Donovan
Washington, DC
check6dc@gmail.com

Dad,
 Four years since your passing and still remembering it all like it was just yesterday — trying to keep up chasing you down the mountain, fishing, stories, wisdom, everything. You would be really proud of your great grandson Marcus Gibson Militech — he’s going to be just like you. Diana, Shari and the girls all doing well. Connected with a guy who was at Mountain Home here in White Salmon who knew Ed Atterberry. Helped his wife and family after he was shot down in Vietnam. Missing you very much but know you are living inside all of us.
Love,
Brock

Happy Birthday Dad!!! Thinking of you and all of our special memories on what would have been your 87th Birthday.
Love you always, Brock and Diana

Remembering a great man on this 3rd anniversary of his passing. Dad, not a day goes by that we don’t relive the many fond memories of us all together. You would be proud to know that June continues to live in the dream house you built together. You did so much for so many. This past May, Kati brought you a new grandson into this world. Marcus Gibson Miletich is growing to be such a strong, wonderful little man who brings us all so much joy. Shari has accomplished so much that you would be proud of, owning and operating her own business and still teaching school children. She continues to regularly enjoy your favorite sport of skiing that you taught her. Diana continues to be the matriarch of our family, just as strong, caring, and loving as ever. Still giving those haircuts you enjoyed so much.
Love and miss you,
Brock, Diana, Shari and Kati

Dad,
  Missing you more than ever and at the same time, feel as though we are surrounded by your presence. We watched your memorial slide show with our good friends from Argentina and enjoyed sharing all of our very found memories of our lives with you here on earth. Looking forward to the day we are all once again together
Love,
Brock and Diana

Dad I'm thinking of you during this holiday season. I miss you each and every moment of every single day. I still speak to you and have our "talks" during quiet moments and special dreams. The grand babies are growing up so fast and while I"m sad that they won't know you personally, your memories will live on through stories and pictures. They'll grow up with Tom Dooly, Jimmy Crack Corn, and Bill Grogan and his goats for sure. I know we'll be together again one day in God's grand kingdom. Save me a special spot. Merry Christmas.

Dear Family and friends,

 Remembering Dad today; on this the day of John Glens' death. 

 Do you realize that if it were not for a handful of candidates, Dad would have been memorialized at his passing similarly. Along with being the superior pilot he was, Hoot had dreams of going to the moon and applied to the APOLLO astronaut program.

 Love you Dad!

Dear Family of William "Hoot" Gibson,
The Christian Military Fellowship salutes the life and service of William Gibson to our great nation! 
Mark Powell
CMF Director

Remembering you today. I see so much of you in my wonderful husband Brock. You would be so proud of him. June is doing very well, hanging in there, missing you of course. You chose wisely! 
I wish I could see your smiling blue eyes once again. We all miss you so much. Thankfully you left so many heartfelt memories in our hearts that we will always have a special feeling of your presence in our lives. Thank you and happy birthday. XXOO

One Year

It has been one year today since the passing of my father. Still missing him more than ever, still revelling in the memories of a lifetime and still as ever thankful for the legend that lives on. Dad would be pleased to know that because of how he lived his life, we are all doing fine. June continues to enjoy the home in Angel Fire that they built together. All of his children, grandkids and friends are thinking of him each and every day.
Dad, we all miss you so much, but at the same time, it seems as though you are still here -- living through each and everyone one of us who you touched in such special ways.
Love,
Brock, Diana, Shari and Kati
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Dearest family of Hoot,
I just now found out about Hoots passing from a FB post by Chuck, I served on boards with both of them and remember a NG Major combat veteran telling me and pointing.. that, that man is "Hoot Gibson" What I remember about him was a humble man that did not want to be recognized as he called it "a or the" "BLACK ACE" Which always floored me when he told that story.
My Daughter played with the NM 44th NG Band. They performed one memorial day a few years back in Angel Fire and I introduced her to Hoot, He really played down his Time served as a pilot, I was able to get him to tell the Black Ace Story and soon we were surrounded by people listening, when he was done, Veterans were lined up to shake this Hero's hand. I am so glad that God allowed me to call him my friend, It is with a saddened heart that I feel when I read of his passing...God Speed Colonel Gibson! SIR!!!

It was very sad to learn of Bill's death. We grew up together as teenagers, Boy Scouts, high school and so much more. He visited me at Fitzsimons Army Hospital where I had been sent from Korea. We really lost track of each other until recently when we had a couple of telephone conversations when he lived in Albuquerque.

Thanks to everyone who attended our dad's memorial last Saturday in Denver. We felt so much love and support from both family and special friends. If you sent flowers, they were beautiful and we know you were there in your heart. A special thanks to the staff of Horan and McConaty who helped us through a difficult process with the utmost professionalism. 

We encourage everyone that knew my dad to leave a special story under the "stories" tab on this site. We are going to compile all of these memories for this summer's event in Angel Fire. What an incredible man, we know that many of you have one or more wonderful stories to tell.

A huge thanks to all those who joined us for my father's memorial service last Saturday in the Denver area. It was an incredible tribute to his full and complete life. A special thanks to Chaplain Toney, the Patriot Guard and the AF Honor Guard. Retiring my father's colors with full military honors, complete with a 21 gun salute and the bugle playing Taps was a powerful tribute to a great patriot who accomplshed so much -- combat flight record holder, 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism in battle, 15 Air Medals and so much more. Looking forward to a great turn out this summer when we take him home to his resting place in Angel Fire, NM. While the RECCE moto of "Alone, Unarmed and Unafraid" is very true, your support is a testament that he was anything but alone and he was always armed with the love of his family and many friends.

The feather according to the Native Americans signifies honor and bravery in battle. Hoot was dedicated to helping the veterans that attended the Veterans Wellness Retreats in Angel Fire for he understood the scars of the battlefield. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to know him for he was a kind and caring person who always greeted you with a smile and a joke. Hoot has earned his feather.

Dear June and family: I want to express the Westphall family's condolences to you. Hoot was a remarkable man and a true patriot. I particularly want to express our thanks for the many ways in which he supported my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Victor Westphall, in their work for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Angel Fire. Men like Hoot helped to make their struggles bearable. The Colonel had a calm but determined way of approaching projects that I know my parents valued and that I will always respect and value. Veterans have lost a strong voice. Hopefully, we will be inspired to carry on his work. Regards,
Walter Westphall

Hoot was so special to me. I honestly don't know how to put it into words. It has been an honor for me to work closely with him at the David Westphall Veterans Foundation over the last 4 and 1/2 years. He always had a smile, a joke, and a hug for me. Every time I would ask him how he was, he would say "If I was any better I couldn't stand it". I loved him dearly and will miss him so very much. Prayers for peace and comfort to June and his whole family. You were all greatly blessed and highly favored!

David and I were so graced to share our beloved Bella Vista home-away-from-home with you and Hoot. We loved the times we met up with Hoot, the conversations we had, and the times we shared. Having lost my beloved David, I know how your heart must ache June -- he loved you dearly. I am certain David and Hoot are waiting for us and overseeing our protection until we can meet up again.

June and family,
I want to give you my condolences. Hoot is one of the greatest people that I have ever met. I thank God that I crossed paths with him. He helped me change the direction my life was going. He had so much grit that the only thing you could do is respect him and want to be like him. He had so much love for you, June, that it breaks my heart, but I know he still watches over you from heaven.
I wont be able to make it to the services, but I will be there in spirit. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate ask. My prayers and best wishes are with you and your family. May God bless and take care.
Your friend with love,
Peter

Hoot was an amazing man to say the least! He was always in the best of spirits when he came to visit us at the office. Every time I would ask him how his day was, he would reply "I am upright and life can't get much better than that!" Always a positive attitude. He had so many qualities that were admired by so many. One of my favorites was the love he had for June. He will be greatly missed!

Cindy Moore - Resort Properties of Angel Fire

Dear June, Cheryl, Brock, Thad and families;  Please know that I am with you in prayer. Losing both parents makes you feel like such an orphan. Your father was a wonderful man, who showed others how to live by his example, word and integrity. Judith always said how well he treated her and how much she loved him for that. I pray that our Heavenly Father will lift you up now and in the days ahead. Love, Jennifer