Charles A. Gibb

On May 9, our wonderful dad, Charlie Gibb, donned his boots, grabbed his saddle, and rode off to greener pastures. A man defined by his character, not just his career, he will forever be known as an amazing dad, a fabulous husband, awesome Pop Pop, and a wonderful human being. If you were lucky enough to be his friend, family, associate, neighbor, co-worker, or classmate, you know exactly what we mean.

His love of the west, riding horses, and exploring the wide-open prairies was just a small glimpse into Charlie. His life was full of adventures, exploration, and fun. As a child, he rolled his own cigarettes at 6, climbed water towers as a teen, and we have heard stories of jumping on train cars near the Army War College. He spent a few years stationed at Johnston Island with the Air Force during the Korean War. During that time, he made many friends in Hawaii, was the member of an investment group (they didn't get rich), explored the islands, and guarded an atomic bomb on the base.

He was a "badass" federal agent going on raids, chasing mob bosses, and locking up white collar criminals. He even did the occasional secret service detail for Presidents and testified in Congress several times. He loved planning parties - the food, decorations, playlists, and theme. He made dandelion wine (made Amy and Diane pick the flowers in the field across from the courthouse in Fairfax, VA), liked to pick apples and peaches, and loved to cook. He could fix just about anything that broke, complained about taxes, and loved to do yard work (shirtless so he could get a tan). He was meticulous at keeping records (we found records on just about everything in his life divided into hundreds of manila folders), a championship level yard sale shopper, and an expert marksman. 

He loved dancing, driving, and traveling. He loved planning vacations, riding roller coasters, and music. He recited "The Raven" to put his kids to sleep (seriously), loved to read, and was an amazing writer and editor. He insisted very vacation trip allow for "serendipity" - meaning he kept a certain amount unplanned so there would be time for last minute sidetracks. He was a dedicated worker and taught us the value of a strong work ethic - but he never missed a concert, soccer game, football game, or anything else important to his kids. He was the guy who would always buy lemonade from the kids on the corner, volunteer for community events, and run organizations. He was a founding member of AFSA-IRS and was made a life member.

He taught firearms self-defense classes for women, was an awesome doodler, and spent many years floating the Boiling Springs Christmas tree on the lake. He loved a good martini (straight up with a twist), midnight snacks, ice cream sandwiches, and he was always game for a cheeseburger. He taught his grandkids to play checkers and chess, ride bikes, and loved to hide Easter eggs.

He was famous for his red pen, he was a competitive pistol shooter, and loved poetry. He enjoyed western movies, crooners, country music, and an icy cold Coors Light. He left behind 100s of pens and pencils, a huge assortment of staplers, and an incredibly large collection of really cool vintage cowboy cap guns. He loved to play catch, throw the football, and go fishing. He dressed up for Halloween and loved talking to the kids who came around for Trick or Treat (he counted everyone, so he'd be sure he knew how much to buy for next year).

He loved Christmas. He loved crab feasts. He loved beach boardwalks (but not the sand). He loved amusement parks. He loved life. He loved cowboys. He loved the Lazy L&B Ranch in Dubois, WY. He loved his friends. He loved his family. We loved him (and still do). He asked us to keep his secret chili recipe a secret.

He left detailed (enumerated) instructions about what he wanted. A document titled Charles A. Gibb Instruction for Events Following My Death lists six items. He wanted to be cremated, he didn't want a funeral, and he wanted a huge "celebration of life" which he said was not allowed to be held at a funeral home. He provided us with an Obituary to be read at the event, a list of songs he wants played, the poems he wants read, and a request that the food include chili or cowboy stew - and coffee, of course.

Once we have a date for the big party, we'll make sure it gets posted on social media. He wants us to make sure the invitation goes out to relatives, friends, associates, classmates, and others. He even asked for us to advertise in the local papers. Happy Trails to you, Dad.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Isabelle; daughters, Amy (Galen) and Diane (Todd); and grandchildren Emma, Sophie, Alex, Chloe, and Ava. He is also survived by his sister, Doris; sisters-in-law, Dolores and Nancy; and many nieces and nephews. Born and raised in Carlisle, PA; Charlie was a 1953 graduate of Carlisle High School. After high school, he served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He earned Bachelor of Arts degree from Shippensburg State College and a Master of Public Administration from Indiana University - Bloomington. He worked for the Kreuger Dairy then for the IRS. Having spent most of his career at the IRS headquarters in Washington, D.C., he retired from the federal government. Later, he relocated from Fairfax, VA back to Central PA and built a house in Boiling Springs. He was a founding member of the AFSA-IRS. He was also an active member of the Boiling Springs Civic Association, the Carlisle Gun Club, and several other civic and fraternal organizations.