Richard "Dick" Gibbs

Richard D. "Dick" Gibbs, 92, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, died peacefully and went home to his Lord early Monday morning, September 5, 2011, at the Life Care Center of Cheyenne. Mr. Gibbs was born April 6, 1919, in Price, Utah, the second son of Henry Gibbs and Sarah Potter Gibbs. Dick attended Carbon High School in Price, Utah. As a teenager he was active in Boy Scouts earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He also enjoyed music and played the clarinet and sang in a local dance band. Following high school he moved to Casper, Wyoming in 1938 taking a job as an equipment engineer with Mountain Bell Telephone Company. While working in Casper he met Elsie Propp, a phone company operator. After a brief courtship the two were married at the LDS Temple in Sale Lake City, Utah. In the mid 1950's Dick and Elsie Gibbs moved to Cheyenne where Dick was promoted to District Manager of Mountain Bell in charge of all phone company equipment operations in the State of Wyoming. Mr. Gibbs was a member of the Casper Rotary Club for more than 10 years. Following his move to Cheyenne, he joined the Cheyenne Rotary Club in 1959. He held many offices in the local club including president in 1973-1974. In 1978-1979 Gibbs was selected District Governor overseeing all Rotary Clubs in Wyoming, Colorado and Western Nebraska. That year he presided over the organization's District Conference held at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The event is remembered as one of the most informative, inspirational, and enjoyable conferences in the history of this Rotary District. In the 1970's & 1980's Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs attended numerous Rotary International Conferences held around the world. Dick Gibbs was instrumental in organizing the Health, Hunger, and Humanity relief program of Rotary International, an initiative which has vastly improved living conditions in impoverished areas worldwide. Mr. Gibbs earned the Rotary distinction of Paul Harris Fellow. Dick had many hobbies. He enjoyed music. He was an accomplished pianist and organist - both self taught. He had a passion for ballroom dancing and was a certified Arthur Murray dance instructor in both Casper and Cheyenne. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Cheyenne Country Club. He was a master photographer, developing photos in his own dark room; he kept current with the latest technology in his photographic equipment over five decades. Physical fitness was also a focus of his life. Following retirement he swam regularly and was awarded Honorary Life Membership at the Cheyenne Family YMCA in recognition of his devotion to swimming on his 90th birthday. Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elsie (Propp) Gibbs; brothers Jack and Paul and sisters Millie, Jane and Grace. From the Gibbs family Dick is survived by nephews Gary Gibbs and Gordon Robson, and sister-in-law Barbara Gibbs. From the Propp family Dick is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 10th and Sunday, September 11th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Schrader Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted on Monday, September 12th at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Eastridge Ward, Lincolnway Chapel, with Bishop Anthony Young officiating. An interment service will follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Richard Gibbs may be made to the Cheyenne Rotary Club Foundation, P.O. Box 511, Cheyenne, WY 82003 or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Eastridge Ward, 3312 East Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001 or to a charity of choice.

Service

Monday, September 12, 2011 11:00am

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Lincolnway Chapel

3312 East Lincolnway

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Visitation

Saturday, September 10, 2011 10:00am - 6:00pm

Schrader Funeral Home

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Visitation

Sunday, September 11, 2011 10:00am - 6:00pm

Schrader Funeral Home

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Interment

Lakeview Cemetery

Pershing Blvd

CHEYENNE, WY 82001