GIBSON, Boyd E. (Hoot)

Boyd E. "Hoot" Gibson, 78, of Litchfield Park, AZ passed away on April 17th, 2004. Born November 23, 1925, in Oklahoma and raised by his mother, Lucille T. Gibson in Portland Oregon. He attended Lewis & Clark College in 1942 with a promising career in baseball. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1945. He returned home and served as a fire fighter in Portland as well as being scouted by the Cincinnati Reds. His love for his country was greater than his love of baseball and he enlisted in the Air Force. He was commissioned through the Aviation Cadet program and became a Fighter Pilot. While stationed at Moses Lake AFB, WA he met and married Betty Ann Page August 7, 1954. She preceded him in death on January 12, 2001, after 47 years of marriage. A Veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, his decorated career encompassed 32 years with tours across the United States and in England, Spain and as Commander of the 32nd TFS, Camp New Amsterdam, Soesterburg, the Netherlands. After a tour with the TAC IG team, he came to Luke in 1974 and retired as Base Commander in 1976. Following his "retirement" from the Air Force he worked for Lockheed Aircraft International and relocated to Saudi Arabia for four years. He returned to Arizona in 1981 and began his third career as flight instructor at the Airline Training Center in Goodyear, AZ for ten years officially "retiring" in 1993. A 30 year resident of Litchfield Park, he was a member of the Daedallians Service Organization and unofficial "Litchfield Park Coffee Club". While in El Campo, he was a member of the Elks Lodge. Survived by his second wife, Betty Harfst, of El Campo, TX; his daughters Terry Sobrero (George) of Las Vegas, NV and Kelly Gibson of Litchfield Park; his step children, Kelly Socha (Mark) of El Campo, TX, Sheriden Harfst of Sugarland, TX and Slade Harfst (Rhonda) of El Campo, TX; his grand children Lyndsey and Cortney Sobrero and step grand children Sommer and Garret Pool, MacKenzie and Bronson Harfst, his nieces Stacy Merrifield (Gary and daughter, Page) of Cortez, CO, Kathy Rosario (Jose) of La Mesa, CA, nephew Arnold Page and sister-in-law Karen Page. A memorial service was held Friday, April 23, 2004, at The Church of Litchfield Park, 300 N. Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park, AZ. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to contribute to the Hoot Gibson Scholarship Fund for the Order of Daedallians, Thunderbird Flight, P.O. Box 369 Litchfield Park, AZ 85340. This fund has been created to provide flight training for high school ROTC students. We will always hear his laughter. Arizona Republic 4/21/2004.