LTC Joseph A. Gibbs U.S. Army (Ret), 74, passed away on Oct. 17, 2016. A veteran of Vietnam, where he earned several medals including the Bronze Star, Joe’s Army career began with the Cuban Missile Crisis, when he joined his dad, who was a commanding officer at Fort Polk, La. He was also a proud member of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment known as the Blackhorse Regiment.

A Texas native and longtime Cowboys fan, Joe explored the many parks, rivers and lakes of his adopted state. As a Virginia state park camp host, he spent many enjoyable hours camping and boating with family and friends. He expressed his faith as a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. As a graduate of Shippensburg University, he held bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration.

The son of Col. J.W. Gibbs and Bess Allen Gibbs, he was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Stephanie Ann Gibbs Freel; sister, Annyce Roberts Chertorisky; brother-in-law, Russell Williams; and nephew, John Williams.

He will live on in the hearts and memories of his wife of 53 years, Mary Susan Gibbs; son, Joseph Stephen Gibbs and Patricia Dhanvada; sister, Katherine Lamoreaux; sister-in-law, Ann Williams; niece, Lynn Williams Aster; son-in-law, Eric Freel; and grandchildren, Zachary Joseph, Joshua Stephen, Rachel Pauline and Emily Preeti.

A celebration of Joe’s life will held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 213 N. Main St., Suffolk, with the Rev. Keith Emerson officiating. Burial will be at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, from 5 to 7 p.m. at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in his honor and memory to Virginia Association for Parks, P.O. Box 2633, Fairfax, VA 22031 or to a charity of choice. Condolences may be offered at www.RWBakerFH.com.