Donald Gibson

BOARDMAN - Services will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Boardman-Canfield Chapel for Donald T. Gibson, 79, who died early Saturday morning at his home after a four year battle with cancer.

"Don" was born Dec. 8, 1931, in Youngstown, the son of Thomas D. and Margaret L. Murphy Gibson.

After attending St. Brendan grade school, he was a 1950 graduate of Youngstown South High School. Don went on and served our country as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, where he played baseball while serving his country. After returning home, Don continued his love of baseball by playing class B baseball for the Southside Sportsman as a pitcher and 2nd baseman. He also played AA ball for Charol Motors.

Mr. Gibson's working career started as a manager for several SOHIO service stations, and moved to a sales position with Sun Oil. He then became the owner/operator of the "JUSTRUHONT" restaurant on Market Street in Youngstown. He then entered a sales career at Columbiana Chevrolet in Columbiana. Don never slowed down, for the past 15 years he had served as a courier for Forum Health's Clin Lab.

Don is survived by three daughters, Susan Randy Cook of Boardman, Stephanie Roy Payton of London, Ohio and Kelly Gibson of Columbus; a son, Thomas Katie Gibson; his seven grandchildren, Randy Erin Cook, Jamie and Jenna Cook, Thomas and Andrew Gibson and Tyler and Makenna Payton; and his nieces and nephews, including Judy Randy Pabst, who helped care for him.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Donnie; and a sister, Barbara McPhillips.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Boardman-Canfield Chapel.

The family has requested that material tributes either take the form of donations to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512 or a memorial for Don, care of the family.