John Gibbs

Our beloved father, John Watt Gibbs, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2024, at the age of 96. He will be remembered as a strength, wisdom, and activity pillar.

Following high school, he graduated from Cal Maritime in Vallejo CA planning to enter the Merchant Marines during WWII. He served as a U.S. Navy Officer on the U.S.N.S. Marine Serpent T-AP-202 during the Korean War transporting troops to Asia from West coast cities. He then graduated from UCLA with a BA in Finance and passed his CPA exam.

He was Vice President of Finance at Del Mar Avionics, a cardiac monitor company where he retired after 30 years. 

He was also an active and spirited man who embraced life to the fullest. He was an avid gardener, and his love for nature was reflected in the lush plants that filled his backyard. He enjoyed traveling the world, his adventurous spirit took him to new and exciting destinations. He went from seeing the Giant Buddha of Kotokuin during the war to enjoying the grandeur of the Egyptian pyramids in his later years and Melbourne for the Australian Open. In one trip to Tokyo, he played in a tennis tournament with other international players and one player died on the courts, harking back to the days of a soldier dying on the battlefield.

John very much appreciated the camaraderie of his friends and staff at Panera who looked after him during breakfast and the ensuing walk down El Paseo with its lovely flowers and art galleries. It gave him a peaceful, relaxing sense of freedom and independence. Should he need assistance the staff were helpful to call his son who was nearby.

John also enjoyed the company of our tennis neighbors from Canada. Their kindness and friendliness were visits he cherished - always asking and awaiting their company.

In the later months, we appreciated the dedicated staff of the Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs and the great care of Family Hospice Care - Palm Springs that made is final days peaceful.

But most of all, throughout his life he enjoyed balancing family and exercise including sailing, bicycling, tennis, hiking in the local mountains and walking on the beach.