Robert H. Gibson

Robert H. “Bob” Gibson, 92, of Columbia passed away peacefully Saturday, January 20, 2018, after a brief illness. Born June 25, 1925 in Red Springs, NC, he was the son of William W. and Ida Maitland Jones Gibson. He served in the Navy during WWII aboard the USS Pavlic APD, a converted Destroyer Escort that was in Tokyo Bay when the Peace Agreement was signed. Friendships formed during his service years were some of his strongest and he enjoyed many reunions with shipmates from the Pavlic. He graduated from the University of South Carolina on the GI Bill and later earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Oklahoma.While at USC, he met his life’s love, Mary Lee Smith, to whom he was married for 62 years until her death. He retired from SC DHEC after more than 30 years of public health service at both state and county level. He faithfully served at Main Street United Methodist Church in many capacities and co-founded a community Men’s Prayer Breakfast that still meets today. For many years, he enjoyed involvement in the St. Andrews Optimist Club. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Temples-Halloran Funeral Home Chapel, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212 with The Rev. Randy Smith officiating.Burial will follow in Bush River Memorial Gardens. The family will greet visitors beginning at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service. Surviving are daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Leonard Bouknight of Irmo; grandsons and their wives, Justin and Sherry Bouknight of Irmo and Jeremy and Laura Bouknight of Powdersville;great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Tillman Bouknight of Irmo and Judah and Bowen Bouknight of Powdersville; many beloved nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by a brother, Billy Gibson and a sister, Betty Gibson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 1830 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or to Epworth Children’s Home,PO Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29205. The family would like to thank Dr. Bradley Word and staff as well as Wellmore of Lexington for their loving and compassionate care.