Thomas Chears Gibson

Thomas Chears Gibson “Hoot”, a husband, father, grandpapa, historian, storyteller, poet. He was a thinker, and an educator, craving knowledge and wanting to share it with the ones he loved. He passed away peacefully Monday July 21, 2014 after giving cancer the best fight he had. Tom was born on September 14, 1942 in Monroe, N.C. to Analane Chears Gibson and Harold Cleveland Gibson. He grew up in Paigeland, S.C. and moved to Greenville, S.C. in 1949. He attended Greenville High School where he was an accomplished athlete in several sports and was an Eagle Scout. He attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned his bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering. While there he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the USC varsity football team. Among several athletic achievements he was honored with the title of co-captain and an invitation to play in the 1963 Blue-Gray All-Star game. He was 1st-Team All ACC in 1963 and wrapped up his college football career by being the 79th overall pick in the 1964 AFL draft to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tom moved from the football field to the work force, where he began his career as an electrical engineer at Lockheed Martin in Atlanta, Georgia. He also worked as an engineer at IBM in the New York office before he picked up in 1976 and moved to Texas where he then began his own company, Dunhill of West Houston. Texas remained home for Tom and his family. He is survived by his ex-wife Mary Jo Gibson, sons Blake Gibson and Barrett Gibson, daughter-in-law Leah Gibson, daughter Erin Lechler and son-in-law Shane Lechler. He has 4 beautiful grandchildren: Bailey and Emerson Lechler, and Ava and Brennan Gibson. Tom is also survived by his brother Gordon Gibson and wife Natalie Gibson of Greenville, S.C. His nephews Hunter, Tyler, and Ryan Gibson and their growing families. Brother-in-law John and wife Judy Brennan of Columbia, S.C., nieces Kathryn and Anne, and nephew Jay Brennan and their growing families. When Tom was not being Grandpapa he was an amateur history buff, loved to read, write poems, always tracing his family tree. He loved photography. He was still in pursuit of the perfect picture. He had a remarkable memory and loved to share the things he was learning and reading about with anyone who would listen. He was an avid sports fan, highly competitive, and loved to ski and play golf in his younger years. He dreamed of beating cancer and buying a sailboat to travel the world, but above all what he loved most was being Grandpapa. In lieu of flowers, in honor of Tom, the family would appreciate donations to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org. A Memorial service will be held Saturday July 26, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079. A reception will follow the memorial service at Brenner's Steakhouse, 10911 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079.

Thomas Chears Gibson

September 14, 1942 - July 21, 2014