Obituary of Charles Lewis Gibboney

Charles (Chuck) Gibboney was the luckiest of men.  After 91 years, he pulled over the side of the road on February 25 and quickly died of a heart attack.  That’s the way he wanted to go.  Truth be told, he prayed of dying quickly in his sleep, but that was the next best thing. 

Charles Gibboney was born in Zanesville, Ohio on February 11, 1928 to Charles and Mary Elizabeth Gibboney. Both of his parents were of Irish decent, Mother’s family originally hailed from County Cork and Father’s family originally from County Tyrone. Charles was fiercely proud of his Irish heritage and he heartily enjoyed celebrating all Irish holidays with friends and family.

Chuck attended Saint Nicholas High School in Zanesville, Ohio.  Immediately upon graduation, he eagerly joined the US Navy intent on doing his part to help the US win the Second World War.  He persuaded his parents to sign a special waver to release their 17 year-old-only child into the hands of Uncle Sam.    Luckily, he shipped out to the Pacific the day Truman dropped the Atomic bomb on Japan, so his stay in the military was blessedly brief.  Chuck referred to his military stay as the best and worst of times. “I realized from day one that the only two people who really gave a shit about me were my parents,” he frequently said. 

After his tour of duty with the Navy, Chuck used the GI Bill to enroll in Marietta College. A year later he transferred to and graduated with a BA in Business from Ohio University in Athens. The luck of the Irish guided Chuck to marry the beautiful girl next door, Elizabeth Tanoury, and start a lively sixty-year journey with her until her death in 2012.  Chuck and Liz’s lives were enriched with six children, David, Mary, Lynn, Chuck, Jim and Tom Gibboney, five grandchildren, Sarah, Adam, Julia, Ben and Eli, abundant good health, steady employment and tons of laughter.

In fact, laughter and gratitude are what defined Chuck Gibboney. He looked for and found the humor in every challenge he encountered.   His quick wit and quips entertained all those who knew him for a brief moment or his entire life. He was forever grateful for constant employment, over 25 years with RCA Electronics, which enabled him and his large family to live and thrive.  RCA moved Chuck and his family to their manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana when the plant in Cambridge, Ohio closed.  After retirement, he frequently accompanied his work buddies on golf trips.  He remained a staunch fan of the Chicago Cubs, mostly recovering from their losses, but reveling in their occasional wins. He was an ardent fan of the Colts and Pacers as well. 

Being an only child left an indelible mark on Chuck. He often said that the only thing in life he wanted was lots of children, so having six of them, gave him such joy and wealth.  “I’ve got six million dollars in my pocket every day,” he would say referring to his kids. He loved attending their sporting events, their piano and dance recitals, their numerous graduations from high school and college, their weddings and the births of his grandchildren.  He will be missed and cherished by his friends and family as a unique man who lived a full and loving life.