Mr. Gary Orel Gibbs

Gary Gibbs, age 84, of Canton, Georgia passed away December 18, 2022. Gary was born on March 22, 1938 in Olanta, South Carolina, the eldest of five children, to the late Ralph and Lorraine Gibbs. After graduating from High School in Charleston, South Carolina, Gary served honorably in the US Army, based in Germany. He used the skill learned in the army to gain employment as a radar specialist with Philco Radio Transmission, and was assigned to work in the mountains of West Virginia. There he met Winnie Kerns, his beloved wife of 47 years. After marrying, they moved to Florida, California, and New Hampshire, before settling in Oak Ridge, TN in 1964 to raise a family. Gary worked at the Oak National Laboratory, then as a Service Manager for ORTEC for 17 years. He and Winnie were part owners and managers of The Back Door Pizza Parlor and later Le Gazebo restaurant. Gary accepted a job with Nuclear Data in Marietta, GA, so he and Winnie relocated to Roswell, GA in 1981. Gary and Winnie were blessed with five children, Mike, Marilyn, Mark, Donna, and Alison. The most important things in Gary’s life were family, faith, fishing, boating, cars, and the University of Tennessee football. He had a weakness for babies and dogs. He loved food, especially gathering for family dinners. He set an excellent example of what grandfather should be, always showing love and attending as many of his grandchildren’s activities as possible. Gary taught three generations of his family to fish, and served as the transportation leader for Boy Scout Troop 224. He was an active member of the Jaycees, the Sports Club of America, and the Corvette Club of America. Weekends often saw him organizing and racing in autocross events throughout East Tennessee. Gary was a member of the Piedmont Church and several bible study groups. He wanted to share Christ with everyone. He frequently visited nursing homes to lift their spirits, volunteered at homeless shelters, Meals on Wheels, and Habitat for Humanity. Along with his parents, Gary is preceded in death by his wife, Winnie, his son Mike (Cathie), and his four siblings, O’Neil, Ronnie, Merea, and Elaine. He is survived by his four loving children: daughters, Marilyn Wagner (Jim), of Roswell, Georgia, Donna Hook (Jere), of Canton, Georgia, Alison Butler (Seth) of Stuttgart, Germany, son Mark (Gayle) of Safety Harbor, Florida; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and many friends. The visitation for Gary will take place at 1:30 in the afternoon on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at the Piedmont Church. 570 Piedmont Rd, Marietta GA. The funeral service to honor the life of Gary will be 2:30 in the afternoon following the visitation. There will be a reception following the conclusion of the service. Please visit www.northsidechapel.com to share memories and leave condolences to the family. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to NAMI Cobb in Gary’s name at https://namicobb.org/donate-now/

Mr. Gary Orel Gibbs

March 22, 1938 - December 18, 2022