Gloria Miller Gibbons

Gloria “Mimi” Gibbons died peacefully at her home in Vero Beach, FL on Friday, June 14, 2018, surrounded by her loving family.

Gloria May Miller Gibbons was born on June 8, 1925, in Carthage, NY. She was the daughter and only child of Dr. Charles Donley Miller and Helen Wilder Miller. Gloria was raised in Syracuse, NY, where her father practiced medicine and her mother was active in the community. Gloria attended elementary school in Syracuse. She received her secondary education at National Park Seminary located outside of Washington, DC and her college education at Chevy Chase College in Maryland. It was there where Gloria discovered her love and talent for ice skating.

Gloria’s summers were spent in Alexandria Bay, NY, at her grandfather Mark Sheldon Wilder’s home, Pinetree Point, which was situated on the St. Lawrence River located in the Thousand Islands. It was in front of the home’s beautiful stone fireplace where Gloria exchanged vows with the love of her life, Morris A. (Toni) Gibbons, Jr. from Tuckerstown, Bermuda on October 15, 1947.

Gloria and Toni began their long and productive marriage in Vero Beach where they raised 8 children in the Stone House that her grandfather Mark Wilder built in the 1930’s. The Gibbons’ Stone House was the scene of many birthday parties, weddings and other festive occasions throughout the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. Gloria knew how to entertain and she was an excellent cook!

During her children’s school years, Gloria was active in the Rosewood School PTA and St. Helen School’s Harvest Festival. She and her husband, Toni, were charter members of the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad, and she told many stories of those early days before the arrival of modern-day vehicles and high-tech equipment. Gloria was a life-long member of Hibiscus Circle of the Indian River County Garden Club; and she also served on the Altar Guild at Trinity Episcopal Church. In later years, she volunteered each Wednesday morning at the First Church of God (now called Pathway Church). Gloria was known for her kindness and generosity throughout the Vero Beach community – never forgetting a birthday or an anniversary.

In the latter 1970’s Gloria and Toni sold the Stone House and moved to a smaller home which still – to this day – remains a gathering place for family and friends and where the coffee pot is brewing before the sun comes up.

Gloria was predeceased by her parents Dr. Charles Miller and Helen Miller Williams; her step-father, J. D. Williams; husband Morris A. “Toni” Gibbons; her three sons, Darby, Mark and Carter Gibbons; her granddaughter, Emily Gibbons and great granddaughter, Landi Ohler.

Gloria is survived by her cousin, Sallyann Miller-Wolf of Perry, GA; her children and their spouses, Chuck and Marie Gibbons, Gloria (Gibbons) and Richard Tejera, Heather (Gibbons) and Joe Lowther, Madge (Gibbons)and Tim Dobeck and Kevin and Roxanne Gibbons; three daughters-in-law, Patti Gibbons, Barbara Gibbons-Mickler and Rose Gibbons; her grandchildren, Sean Gibbons, Tambi Cobb, Chad Gibbons, Kristin Mickler, Amy Balfe, Travis Gibbons, Jordan Lowther, Joshua Dobeck, Matthew Lowther, Dax Tejera, Brandon Gibbons, Zachary Dobeck, Justin Tejera, Erin Dobeck, Dylan Lowther, Morgan Lowther, Dana Gibbons and Tristan Gibbons; and 17 great grandchildren.
Gloria is also survived by nephews Frank Evans and David Bowker of Canada, Endicott Peabody of Arizona, Robert Peabody of New York and niece, Barbara Peabody-Cusick of New York.

A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, 10:30 AM at First Church of God (now known as Pathway Church) located on 58th Ave. and 12th St. in Vero Beach with a burial service following at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gloria Gibbons’ memory to:

VNA Hospice – 1110 35th Lane – Vero Beach, FL 32960