David Gibbud

David "Dave" Wells Gibbud, 67,beloved child of God, passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2010, at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas after a short but brave battle with pancreatic cancer. David married Andrea Winship Winchester on July 2, 1982 in Beeville, TX. Dave was a transplanted Yankee, as evidenced by his love of wearing shorts even on the coldest of South Texas days. A trait proudly passed on to his three Texas grandsons. He was born October 8, 1942, in Poughkeepsie, New York to John Henry and Mae (Ranney) Gibbud. Dave graduated from Rutland High School, Rutland, Vermont, in 1958. While in high school he co-captained his football team and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He began college at Dean Junior College in Franklin, MA following high school. After graduation Dave entered the US Navy. He was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant, and served in the reserves earning rank of Commander. During his time in the Navy, Dave was stationed in Pensacola, FL serving as a helicopter flight instructor, training pilots who were preparing to serve in Vietnam. Dave's love of the Flordia coast would continue for the rest of his life. He lovingly shared the emerald coast with his children and grandchildren, most recently in the summer of 2009. NAS Chase Field and employment as a simulator instructor teaching Naval and Marine pilots to fly jets, brought Dave to South Texas in the early 1980's. Dave wasted no time adopting the Lone Star State as his new home, even earning his Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A & M Corpus Christi. Until the time of his illness Dave was still actively training the nation's best to fly at NAS Kingsville. He truly loved working with young pilots, and helped train over 2,000 student naval aviators logging over 25,000 hours of simulator instruction. Dave was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he served on various committees and taught Sunday School. He was a member of the Windmill Emmaus community and through his Walk to Emmaus Dave found his true Christian calling, and would dedicate many years of service to KAIROS Prison Ministry on both a local level and serving on the state board of directors. Dave delighted in telling stories about his "Brothers in White" coming to know the Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, John Ranney "Jack" Gibbud. Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Andrea Gibbud of Beeville, TX; daughters, Melissa (Troy) Hughes of Beeville, TX, Tammy Gibbud of Orange Park, FL, and Debbie Holman of Gainsville, GA; sons, Jeff (Chris) Gibbud of Palm Harbor, FL, Gary Gibbud of Pinellas Park, FL, and Tim (Michelle) Winchester of Richmond, TX; sister, Peg (Jon) Pintello of Bomoseen, VT; brother, Tim (Melissa) Gibbud of Brandon, VT; grandchildren, Eddy Wester, Spencer Gibbud, Erika Gibbud, Peyton Winchester, Aaron Hughes, Alex Winchester, Cullen Hughes, and Dalton Holman, great-grandchild, Aurianna Conklin, and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation was held on Sunday, January 24, 2010, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Galloway & Sons Chapel. A Celebration of Life service was at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 25, 2010, at First United Methodist Church with Pastor Bill Duke. Interment followed at the Winship Family Cemetery. There was a private family memorial gathering held in Vermont on Monday, January 25, 2010. Pall bearers were Paul Cude, Jim Goodman, Ed Gorney, Ed Hood, Matt Huie, David Morgan, Tucker Rackley and Tom Sowell. Honorary pall bearers were James Brooke, Levi Draper, Buckshot Boenig, Pat Kelley, Max Luna, Chet Sparks, Ty Sparks and Jack Stewart, and all KAIROS brothers in white. In lieu of flowers, memorials donations may be made to KAIROS Prison Ministry c/o First United Methodist Church 106 E. Cleveland, Beeville, TX 78102. Galloway & Sons Funeral Home 409 N. Tyler Beeville, TX 78102 361-358-2512