Palestine High School Alumni Association

11 / 25 / 1925  –  04 / 23 / 2014

Services for Thurman E. Gibson age 88, of Palestine will be held Saturday at 4:00 P.M. at Bailey & Foster Chapel with Rev. Jay Abernathy officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey & Foster.

Mr. Gibson died Wednesday at his residence. He was born November 25, 1925 in Palestine to Robert Virgel and Beulah Olive Tull Gibson. Mr. Gibson was a member and served as a Deacon of the First Baptist Church. He owned and operated a pecan orchard with his wife Mary Jane for many years. He was a member of the Texas Pecan Growers Association. He also was employed with Halliburton Services for 19 years, Baker Oil and Tools for 6 years, and retired from Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Mr. Gibson served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was retired as a Captain, where he served in the 90^thInfantry Division, serving in the Ardennes Rhineland battle in Central Europe, receiving WWII Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Three Bronze Service Stars, and the American Theater Ribbon.

Mr. Gibson was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother R.C. Gibson. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Jane Gibson of Palestine, daughters, Mary Elizabeth Small and husband John Gordon of Fairfield, Margaret Anne McAfee of Midlothian, and Martha Elaine Walsh and husband Daniel of Palestine, five grandchildren, Tina Jobe, Tonya Turnage, Heather Davis, Bethany Frisch and James Walsh, and six great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be John G. Small, Danny Walsh, John Jobe, Craig Turnage, Jason Davis, Derek Frisch, James Walsh and Don Cook. Honorary pallbearers will be the James Sunday School Class of the First Baptist Church of Palestine, Joe Grumbles, Gary Al Gibson, James Robert Chambers, Carl Alfraid Chambers, Tommy Nivens, and Bob Huffman.

Condolence calls will be received from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday at Bailey & Foster Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to a charity of choice.