Richard Grey Gibbs

Richard Grey Gibbs passed away peacefully on September 21, 2023. He was preceded in death on November 2, 2020, by his wife of 74 years, Marjorie (Perk) Gibbs.
Dick was born to Arthur Gibbs, a career Coast Guard officer, and his mother Helen Swift Gibbs on May 27th, 1924. He spent his early years living on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. He and his two siblings, older sister Betty (deceased) and younger brother Donald (deceased) moved to New London Connecticut and then to North Carolina where Dick graduated from high school. After graduating from high school in 1943, like most those of his generation, he entered military service. He joined the Army and was selected to be part of the Army Air Corp. This assignment trained him to be a pilot. He flew the famous P-51 “Mustang” in combat over Europe and he was awarded the “Distinguished Flying Cross” medal for his heroism. After the war he elected to stay in the military. He met the love of his life, Marjorie Perkins, and was married April 17, 1946, at Fort Bliss in El Paso Texas. They had their first child, Lynda on September 15, 1947, and were then assigned to an Air Force base in the Philippines. They were then assigned to a base in San Angelo, Texas where they had their second child, Thomas on January 26, 1951. From there they traveled to Japan, back to El Paso Texas, Merced California and then to Columbus Mississippi. While stationed in Columbus, Dick piloted the Boeing B-52 strategic bomber, an integral part of this county’s defense during the “Cold War”. He retired from the military in 1964 as a Lieutenant Colonel and moved to the Denver area to join United Airlines as a flight operations instructor. After a successful career with United Airlines Dick retired. In July of 2007 Dick & Perk moved to Windcrest and lived a fulfilling life with family, and old and new friends. Dick enjoyed an active lifestyle which included his passions for skiing, golf and a one-month trip in a dory down the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. He and Perk traveled and cruised to many locations including Alaska and New Zealand.
He is survived by his daughter Lynn (Rick) Sauer and granddaughters Christy (Ted) Mahon and Jennifer Sauer; and by his son Thomas (Irene) and granddaughter Alanna (Steve) Hirst, grandson Erik (Elizabeth) Gibbs and granddaughter Shauna (Chris) Anson. He has six great grandchildren, Evan, Kyle & Justin Hirst, Arden & Henry Gibbs, and Lucas Anson.
Dick was part of what has been called the “greatest generation” for the sacrifices they all had to make. There are few remaining members of this generation and sadly, now there is one less.
A memorial Service is planned for Saturday October 14th at 11:00 AM
Location: Windcrest, Highline Overlook Clubhouse, Red Rocks Room, Highlands Ranch, Colorado