Bobby Dean Gibbons

Bobby Dean Gibbons, age 92, of Osawatomie, was surrounded by family and friends as he prepared for his departure to Heaven. He arrived at his Heavenly Home on Sunday Morning February 4, 2024. Bobby Dean was a ‘Twin’ born on March 2, 1931. He was ‘born first’ and his sister Dorothy Jean came minutes later. Bobby and Dorothy were the youngest, ‘the babies’, of ten children born to John Marvin Gibbons and Minerva Kathleen Gibbons. He was born in the Township of Autauga County, Alabama. The county is mostly located in the Gulf Coastal Plain region, with a few rolling hills and forests with many small towns connected. Bobby and Dorothy were best buddies and were inseparable. They were opposite in looks as he had blonde hair & blue eyes and she had brown hair & brown eyes. But they were very connected emotionally. Bobby’s twin sister passed away on Christmas Day in 1934 when they were three years old. She had contracted Osteomyelitis due to a sore on her foot. It was a devastating time for the family and that was one of his first memories of how Faith in God held their family together. The only picture that they had of the twins, was sadly, a picture of Dorothy in her casket and Bobby standing next to it. Bobby had always hoped he had another picture of them together. In 1999 the family surprised him with a Christmas gift and hired an artist to take ‘their features’ from the photo and bring it to life by painting ‘the twins’ walking barefoot in the woods. Bobby was overjoyed to receive this painting and he hung it on the wall in his home office. In 1937 Bobby and his family moved to Thorsby, Alabama. Bobby attended Autauga County Elementary School and Junior High.  Bobby’s Family attended The Liberty Baptist Church in Autauga County, Alabama. Bobby was nine years old when he went to the altar (the same time as his big brother, Earnest) and gave his life to Jesus! Bobby attended Thorsby Institute Private Catholic High School during his High School Years graduating with the Class of 1949.

After Graduation Bobby moved to Birmingham, Alabama and then took a Construction Job in 1951 that sent him to the Paola, Kansas area. This is where he met the love of his life, Mary Louise Evinger, as she was a college student at Ursuline Academy and a waitress at The Palms Malt Shop located on the Paola square. Love at first sight. They were married June 29, 1952 in Osawatomie at The Pilgrim Holiness Church and were married sixty-eight years! Three weeks after their wedding day; Bobby was Drafted and served in The United States Army. He excelled quickly and made rank of ‘Sergeant’ in less than one year of his service. After Basic Training Bobby & Mary made their home in a small modest trailer in Columbia, South Carolina. While living there they welcomed their first born son, Gary Dean, to their little family. Bobby received an Honorable Discharge in 1954 and he moved his family to Osawatomie, Kansas. He began working for Taylor Forge in Paola, Kansas as a Purchasing Agent. In 1959 their little family grew and they welcomed their second born son, Larry Gene. In 1962 Bobby was offered a position and Apprenticeship at Smith & Loveless in Lenexa, Kansas as a Senior Purchasing Agent. Bobby attended night classes at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri for many years while working full time and caring for his family to receive his Business Degree. While he was attending college and working in 1963 they welcomed their third and youngest child (only daughter), Angela Louise. Bobby retired early in 1990 from Smith & Loveless but helped out as a Part Time Consultant for the company. Since he was semi-retired he started a new venture with his Real Estate Business which he had for thirty years.

Bobby was very active in his home church, The Well Wesleyan Church of Osawatomie, Kansas; where he attended Faithfully and was a member from 1954-2024. He was recently honored by his church family for 70 years of faithful service. Bobby served as Music Leader, Church Treasurer, Teen Sunday School Teacher, Vice Chairman of the Church Board, and currently was The Adult Sunday School Teacher. Bobby was a Pillar of his church and many would go to him for wise counsel. He always had the time to talk to you! Bobby was a faithful man of God and made it a priority to bring his family to church. He was also a Coach for Osawatomie Little League Boy’s Baseball from 1967-1971. He taught great sportsmanship and treated the boys and their families with the utmost respect. Bobby made it a priority to plan summer beach vacations with his family and many wonderful memories were made at ‘their home away from home” in Panama City Beach, Florida. Bobby loved the ocean and loved to sit on the sand and gaze out over the beauty and awe of the water and God’s Creation. He equally loved the trees, mountains, and nature. There was a season that he would ride his 4-Wheeler down to the woods and pray in the mornings. He loved all animals. Domestic and wild. And enjoyed watching televised Documentaries of the Jungle and The Amazon. He loved to garden and watch things grow. Nothing was tastier to him than to take a ‘salt shaker’ to his tomato garden, pull one off the vine, salt it, and enjoy! He loved being outside and working in his yard. Bobby was a very meticulous and organized person. He would get teased about it often by his family and friends. Everything had its place! He was a snazzy dresser and made a habit of ‘dressing for success’ as a Purchasing Agent over the years. He also had a love for shoes. But his favorite and most comfortable thing to wear were his overalls-and to go barefoot. Just like when he was a kid. After his wife, Mary, passed in 2021; Bobby found a new hobby of cooking. He made delicious Banana Bread! And he loved to make and share his favorite meal to cook; Ham & Beans, Cornbread, and of course his favorite Southern Turnip Greens. Bobby loved and adored his children, his bonus ‘in law’ children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He never forgot a birthday and loved mailing greeting cards.

Bobby was ready for his journey to Heaven and spoke about it often to his family during his last few weeks of earthly life. Those family members that welcomed him to Heaven were his beautiful wife Mary, his parents John & Minerva Gibbons, his twin sister Dorothy Jean, sisters Ida Mae & Hattie Maude, brothers Bernard (Bunny), George, Kenny, Chester, and an Angel Baby Sibling.

Bobby has many loving family that will be joining him in Heaven one day: He loved them so much and was so proud of each one of his Children; Gary (Evelyn) Gibbons, Larry (Charissa) Gibbons, and Angela (John) Wastlund. His seven beautiful Grandchildren Joshua (Joanie) Gibbons, Jessica (Steve) Mallow, Jared Gibbons, Hadley Gibbons, Madoline Gibbons, Joel (Lisbeth) Wastlund, and Hannah (Nathan) Schad. His Fourteen Adorable Great-Grandchildren kept him young-at-heart; Lillie Bea, Elijah, Twin Girls Iris & Eva, Noah Christine, Gideon, Lucy, Twin Girls Harper & Shiloh, Micah James, Eli Thomas, Amos Matthew, Ivy Mae Lillian, and Ira Ezekiel. Bobby has one sibling remaining; his brother Earnest Gibbons of Pleasant Grove, Alabama. Bobby and Earnest were buddies and would talk on the phone multiple times each day. Bobby also loved his many Nieces and Nephews. Family was important to Bobby and each year he would make it a priority to attend The Gibbons Family Reunion every summer over the past 70 years. This tradition has been carried down to his children. Bobby was a strong solid man with a very tender compassionate heart. He loved Jesus with his entire being. He will be greatly missed but Bobby’s Legacy will live on through his family and the many lives that he’s touched and influenced over his lifetime.

Memorial can be given to The Well Wesleyan Church of Osawatomie