Albert Lee Gibson

Albert Lee Gibson.  Born October 13, 1938 in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Al passed away on Monday, January 10, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.  Al was 83 years old.  His parents were Jesse Albert Gibson and Jessie Lee Merriman Gibson.

Al graduated from Will Rogers High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma with a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering.  Al moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for the Department of the Air Force.  He then joined the Central Intelligence Agency 1976-1988.  Al traveled extensively and lived around the world in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Iran, and Australia.

Al retired from the U.S. government and then worked for TRW and Zeta Associates.  Al was a longtime member and served as a Deacon of the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C.  After his second career at Zeta Associates, Al moved to Texas to spend more time as an expert wood worker and perfecting his craftsmanship.  Al was passionate about genealogy and spent much of his time serving in the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) as President and Vice President of the Hill Country Chapter Kerrville, Texas earning the Patriot Medal—the highest State award for service to the local chapter and to the state and/or national organization for patriotic service—by the Society SAR.  Al also received the Distinguished Service Award for work in the Hill Country Chapter SAR.

Al was an engaging man who constantly extended himself for God, family, and country. A true patriot, Al was a descendent of Nathaniel Merriman, a founder of the town of Wallingford, Connecticut.  Nathaniel came to America from London England on the ship, the Whale, to Boston.  Al was a descendent of Texas settler, Eli Todd Merriman, a Yale University graduate and first physician in San Marcos, Texas.  One of Al’s greatest causes was educating America’s youth about the founding of the United States, especially about the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Northwest Ordinance, and U.S. Constitution.  He was one of three who chartered the Freedom Education Foundation and served as Vice President for Strategic Planning.  He inspired and supported the foundation generously to develop and promote the Freedom Civics course.  

Al pursued the best in himself and endlessly encouraged his family, friends, and countless others in pursuing their best and accomplishing more than they ever knew they could do.  Al always said, you can do anything if you set your mind to it.  Don’t let anyone hold you back and do what you love.  He said, it’s all about the journey.  In all that he did, Al focused on the mission and inspired others to do the same—saying, it’s not about you.  He loved big band music, Fred Astaire dancing and movies, all cultures of food, was an excellent chef, world traveler, and seeker of new experiences and experiencing and learning about nature from the sea floor to the forest tree tops and far into outer space.  He asked questions about everything and was a forever learner.  Al was an avid fisherman and fished with a bow and arrow when he was young.  He was a SCUBA diver and dove on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, loved the ocean, sailing, and sunsets everywhere.  He was a long time conservative, lifetime Presbyterian, and believer in God.

Al is preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Jessie Gibson.  Al is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Gloria P. Gibson, their daughter Kimberly Nicole Gibson of Virginia.  His brother George Thomas Gibson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and niece Tara Myers (John; Brea and Alissa) and nephew Philip Gibson (Frances; Kate, Seth, and Ava).

Memorial service will be held at 11:00am Friday, January 28, 2022 at First Presbyterian Church (Sanctuary) 800 Jefferson Street, Kerrville, TX 78028.  A funeral reception at First Presbyterian Church will follow.

Memorial donations in Al’s honor may be sent to Freedom Education Foundation, P.O. Box 6, Bellevue, WA 98009.  Or go to www.freedomcivics.org.  All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Albert Lee Gibson, please visit our floral store.