Arnold C. Gibson

Better known to friends and family as, ""A C"" Gibson; he was born on March 14, 1925 and passed on May 18th 2012. He was a father to 6 children, grandfather to 9 and great grandfather to 6. He was preceded in death by his wife and best friend Patricia K Gibson (Bills) and granddaughter Krista Schutt. He is survived by the following: Daughters, Diane Gibson, Sue Joseph, Susan Coker, Dawn Gibson, and daughter's in –law Ginny Gibson and Candace Bills. Sons, Dennis Gibson, Mark Bills and son-in-law Dave Joseph. Grandchildren, Eric Gibson, Keenan Hill, Elton Gibson, Jared Hill, Lisa McNellis, Britt Coker, Nicholas Coker, Carly Buckler, and Dana Bills. Great-grandchildren, Alexis Martinez, Jakob Gibson, Sage Hill, Hazie McNellis, Lucas Gibson, and Gus Buckler. Viewing will be held Tuesday, May 22nd from 4 to 8 pm at Horan-McConaty Funeral Home, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado. Funeral Services will be held at the above location, Wednesday, May 23 at 12:30 pm. Interment services at Fort Logan Cemetery to follow at 2:15 pm, Staging Area ""C"". AC was born to Carrie and Errie Gibson in Pittsford, Michigan. He was the youngest in his family of three brothers and 3 sisters. They lived on a small farm in a very rural area of southeastern Michigan. His father passed when AC was only 11 years, after a long illness. Fortunately, he had a very loving family and they all took part in raising him. He was particularly close to his sister, Ida, who now resides in Wauseon, Ohio. After graduating high school, AC joined the Marines and spent time during WWII on Okinawa, the Russell Islands, and north China. After an honorable discharge, he enrolled at Michigan State University where he met Catherine Mary McDonnell. They were married on September 3, 1949. Over approximately the next 5 years they had 3 children Diane, Dennis, and Susie. AC worked in waste water treatment for the city of Warren, Michigan. He later moved with his children to Colorado where he worked for the City of Denver. On February 10, 1967, AC married the love of his life, Patricia Bills Gibson, and Pat, along with her two young children, Susan and Mark, were welcomed into AC's family. He was proud of having a large family and he was over the moon when they learned they were pregnant. Dawn Ellen completed the family, creating a ""Yours, Mine and Ours."" He was a good and caring father who instilled in his children his strong work ethic, honesty, compassion and understanding of others. AC and Pat spent almost 30 years together before she passed in 1995; they were husband and wife and best friends. AC's interests were many and varied. His train collection and homemade track table is legendary. He could fix or build anything. He surveyed each of his children's homes and knew exactly what repairs were needed and how long they had gone untended. He was particularly adept with electronics and taught his grandchildren how to fix household problems. AC loved to bowl. If rolling a bowling ball was an art, then AC was a virtuoso. A common occurrence was a 200 game. Anything else was a non-event. He made many good friends who he valued greatly. Besides Pat, his prime passions were music, theater and reading. Luciano Pavarotti's voice literally brought AC to tears. Discovering Charlotte Church, Sarah Brightman, and Jackie Evancho excited him so much he bought their CDs and DVDs – sometimes even buying them for his own kids. Some of us may still have the Sarah Brightman CD. One of his dreams was to travel the world as a civilian, and he realized those dreams after he met Dot, a very special friend. They took excursions to Europe; South America, around Cape Horn; China, including a Yangtze River tour; New England during the autumn; as well as many trips to Michigan, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Georgia, and Florida. AC was at ease no matter what the culture, new friend or old, relative or not. His family is so very grateful that he was able to have so many opportunities and rich experiences. AC retired at 62 years old, in 1987, from Metro Denver Disposal District No. 1. He held several positions while employed there from Senior Director of Maintenance to Safety Officer. His life in the west was spent in the northern suburbs of Denver, Westminster, Northglenn, and Thornton, He will be missed by many friends and relatives. He will be fondly remembered, not only as a good, intelligent, caring and loving person, but someone with a unique ability to communicate across generations. Please share your memories and condolences with AC's family by clicking the ""Sign Guestbook"" button below.