Rev. Herschel F. Gibbs, 90, former pastor of the St. Luke Ministry of Salvation Church in Adamstown, MD, died February 22, 2012 at Martinsburg VA Hospital in Martinsburg, WV. He was the husband of the late Cothee Andress Gibbs for 54 years. Born on July 29, 1921, in Dayton, Ohio, he was the son of the late Herschel F. Gibbs and Oaklet M. Beard as well as stepfather Paul L. Beard. In 1978, he was ordained in the Gospel Ministry Mission in California and was Pastor of Union Chapel in Rocky Springs for 4 years and Pastored the Chapel on the Hill in Lewistown for a short time. In 1983, he had the old Episcopalian St. Luke Church in Adamstown rejuvenated and put back into a house of worship. He made three missionary trips to the Philippines between 1983 and 1986, establishing a National Headquarters for his mission on the Island of Cebu. During the early part of his life, he graduated from Frederick High. He joined the Maryland Air National Guard that was stationed at Detrick Field in 1941. He graduated from the Pilots Training Command in 1942 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He met his wife at Gunter Air Force Base at Montgomery, AL. He spent 1 ½ years in the South West Pacific, during WW-2 as a pilot. He had been attached to several Fighter and Light Bomber Groups during his 26 years in the USAF. His last assignment was with the 167th Fighter Interception Squadron, WV Air National Guard, where he flew F-86 fighters, retiring as a Lt. Col., USAF. In commercial flying he spent 10 years at the Frederick Municipal Airport as Charter Pilot and Instructor. In his flying career, he had logged more than 16,000 hours. Mr. Gibbs worked for close to 20 years at May's Hardware until his retirement in 2004. Surviving are Tania K. Gibbs of VA, Chad D. Gibbs of Honolulu, Dwight G. Gibbs and wife Guru Prasada of FL, H. Timothy Gibbs of Frederick and Vann W. Gibbs of Frederick and Melody A. Gibbs of Virginia as well as 2 grandchildren Namamrita Gibbs and Ryan Gibbs. He was preceded in death by his second wife Daphne A. Gibbs and a son Brent A. Gibbs. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 28 at 11:00 AM at Frederick Church of the Brethren, 201 Fairview Avenue, Frederick, MD 21701. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VA Medical Center, Palliative Care Program, 510 Butler Avenue, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25405.
