Paul A. Gibbons, 75, of Stevens Village Rd., Derry died November 29, 2002 in the Parkland Medical Center, Derry following a lengthy illness. He was born in Taunton, Ma, on August 31, 1927 the son of the late Paul C. and Gladys V. (Sheppard) Gibbons. Mr. Gibbons had resided in Derry for more than 40 years, formerly living in Boxford, Ma. He was a decorated US Army veteran having served with the infantry during WWII. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. He had been employed for several companies in Manchester and the surrounding communities in various phases of insurance. He had been elected five times to the New Hampshire House of Representatives and served two terms with the NH State Athletic Commission. Mr. Gibbons was past chairman of the Democratic Committee for the Town of Derry. Having been a longtime member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Derry he had been active with the CCD program and numerous youth activities at the church. He was also active in many non profit community organizations in the Southern New Hampshire area.
Mr. Gibbons family includes his wife, Patricia E. (Vogler) Gibbons, Derry, four sons, Donald Gibbons, Timothy Gibbons, Pompano Beach, FL, Christopher Gibbons, Chester, Jeffrey Gibbons, Weare, three daughters, Joyce Gibbons, Louisville, KY, Amy Morash, Derry, Cara Hard, Melrose, MA, eleven grandchildren, one sister, Diana Smith, Portsmouth, one aunt, Hilda Godbout, North Reading, MA, also several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Following cremation, memorial calling hours will be held on Wednesday December 4th from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10:00am in the St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Crystal Ave., Derry. Burial will follow in the West Hampstead Cemetery, West Hampstead. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to, the American Heart Association, NH affiliate, 20 Merrimack St., suite 1, Manchester, NH 03101-2244 or to the American Lung Association of NH, 9 Cedarwood Dr., Unit 12, Bedford, NH 03110.