Harold Gibbs Obituary

Lt. Col., U.S. Army, (Retired) Harold Nixon 'Nick' Gibbs earned his first set of wings at Fort Rucker on June 18, 1971 and gained his eternal wings on Aug. 5, 2023, in Mandeville, Louisiana surrounded by his loving family. Born in Atmore, AL, April 18, 1946, to Ethel (Rigby) and James Harold Gibbs, he grew up in Mobile, Daphne, and Fairhope, AL, where he graduated high school. He received his BS in fisheries management at Auburn University (War Eagle!) where he was a founding member of Farmhouse Fraternity and his MS in business management from Webster University. He is survived by his loving and loved wife, Kathleen 'Kathy' Kennedy Gibbs (Lt. Col., USAR, (Ret)), and children, Carrie (Patrick) Klein, Beau Gibbs, and Maggie Gibbs, his sister Jane (Jeff) Parish, his grandson, Kellen Klein, and his nephew, Jacob Parish. Nick spent his 22 years of professional life first as a pilot in the US Army and then as an aviation logistics manager. He began his career flying 01 Bird Dogs in Vietnam and then transferred to UH-1 and Chinook helicopters. At the Corpus Christi Army Depot in Texas as the Chief of Flight Testing, he oversaw the flight testing of helicopters that had been rebuilt for the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Later he was the Aviation Maintenance Officer for the US 8th Army and the US Forces Korea, where he oversaw the procurement and distribution of millions of dollars of aviation parts and equipment supporting all US Forces in Korea. In the Republic of Panama, as part of the 193rd Infantry Brigade and in coordination with the Agency of International Development, he managed the emergency response equipment for the Jonestown, Guyana massacre and the Dominican Republic and Nicaraguan earthquakes. He was awarded the Senior Aviation Badge, four Army Commendation Medals, a Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal, and the Bronze Star. He was an avid hunter and sports fisherman who once caught a record-setting mahi-mahi in Panama, but unfortunately the fish was butchered before it could be weighed, so it was never recorded! Following his Army career, Nick trained as a professional chef (His brined smoked Thanksgiving turkey was a thing of beauty and a joy to eat.) and, also, became a master gardener, having developed a strong interest in understanding the native flora of Louisiana and the bayou. Nick discovered late in life that he had Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), which spurred him to learn more about how to channel the creativity and energy associated with the diagnosis. As a result, he learned how to design and tie fishing flies and airbrushed unique fishing lures for bass and pike fishing in Canada. He also developed a strong interest in woodturning and joined the Southern Bayou Woodturners group, where he created beautiful works of art for his family and friends. The family would like to express their gratitude to the excellent nursing and respiratory therapy staff in the long-term care unit of the Northshore Rehabilitation Hospital in Lacombe for their outstanding care. Their "dibs on Gibbs" attitude brought joy to all our hearts. Services were held September 30, 2023 at the North Shore Unitarian Universalist Society in Lacombe, LA, where he was a trustee and board member. In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to the North Shore Unitarian Universalist Society in Lacombe or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, two of his favorite organizations. E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The Gibbs family invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.