Thomas James Gibson, a gentle man who loved his family, his golf and his dogs, died November 17th, 2014 in Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock, BC, aged 95.
Tom was born in County Down, Ireland and emigrated with his family to Fort Erie, Ontario when he was four years old. As a young man he moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario to work in the Canadian Car plant, where he met and married Eileen, another child of Irish parents.
During World War II, Tom served with 436 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force in Western Canada and Burma. After the war he and Eileen settled in Thunder Bay until they moved to White Rock in 1980. Tom was employed in Thunder Bay with the Board of Grain Commissioners until his retirement in 1978. Tom loved all sports, but especially golf and, latterly, lawn bowling. He was a natural athlete and scored a round of golf equivalent to his age until his mid-80s. Tom is survived by his wife of seventy years, Eileen, his sons Byran and Garth and his daughter Greer. He was predeceased by his son, Barry, a fellow golfer and dear to his father’s heart. Tom also leaves six grandchildren: Kelly, Liam, Thomas,
Leslie, Connor and Rory, and nine great-grandchildren. He loved them all and was loved in his turn. Over the years he also had many dogs who followed him faithfully. He always had a pocketful of treats on his walks, most recently with his grey standard poodle, Cody, so that every dog in White Rock came to know them both. Tom savoured every aspect of his life to the full and gently charmed all who knew him. He will be sorely missed.