Richard Paul Gibbons

Richard Gibbons, age 73, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2024, at his home in Navajo Dam, NM. He was born in Chicago, IL on September 25th, 1950, to Tom and Margaret Gibbons. He was one of 12 children. Richard moved to Navajo Dam, NM in September 2003, and he really enjoyed the community he lived in, making many good friends here. When Richard would take his dog for a walk, he could be gone for hours and only cover the distance of about a mile, since he stopped and talked to everyone he saw. One of Richard’s fondest memories was when he and Robert traveled around the country visiting family, it was the senior class trip he never got to take. As one of his nieces recently said, he was living his best life here. Richard was a graduate of Savannah High School in Anaheim, California. He was drafted into the Army in June of 1970 and served in the Vietnam war. He was married to Janie Smith on November 7th, 1971, in Las Vegas NV. He worked as a produce manager in the grocery industry for 35 years and proudly retired in February 2003. He is survived by his wife Janie, their son Richard Jr, grandsons Richard the 3rd, Liam and Roman, his four sisters, Alice Hurd of Bakersfield, CA. Eileene (Casey) Howell of Big Fork, MT, Ann Gibbons of Riverside, CA, Joan (Craig) Anderson, of Riverside, CA, and four brothers, Robert (Debby) Gibbons of Banning CA, John (Raylin) Gibbons of Salisbury, NC, James Gibbons (Mary Corrao) of Wallhalla, SC, Edward (Brianna) Gibbons of Anaheim, CA and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews, and cousins. Richard really loved and enjoyed his big family. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the local animal shelter of your choice, because that is what Richard would have wanted.

The rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3rd at St. Rose Catholic Church in Blanco, NM. The funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 4th at the same location. A luncheon will follow the services at the parish hall.