Kenneth E. Gibson

Kenneth E. Gibson, Of Indianapolis, passed away at home on April 21, 2015 at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife, Rita (Des Roches) Pfarr Gibson; children, Sherry (Daniel) Bernal, Vickie (Wayne) Doenges, Valorie (Robert) Shutt; stepchildren, Catherine Pfarr (Larry Lynch), Michael (Brenda) Pfarr, Thomas (Frough) Pfarr, and David (Babs) Pfarr; five granddaughters, six grandsons, and several great–grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dalbert and Pauline Gibson; and siblings, Louis Gibson and Joan Gibson Johnson. Ken was born on June 19, 1933 in Fort Wayne, IN. After high school he studied mechanical engineering at Purdue University and served a Machinist All-Round Apprenticeship at International Harvester Company in Fort Wayne. He also served 8 years in the U.S. Naval Reserves, with 2 years of active duty as a machinist aboard the U.S.S. Piedmont in Japan and Korea. He was later appointed Director/Instructor of the Apprenticeship Training Programs for the Manufacturing and Motor Truck Engineering Divisions of International Harvester in Fort Wayne. In 1963 he accepted a position as Apprenticeship Training Representative with the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training at the U.S. Department of Labor in Fort Wayne. He was appointed State Director for Indiana, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in 1980 and was relocated to Indianapolis. He retired from this position in 1992. During his years in New Haven, Ken was an active supporter of education and youth activities, serving in various volunteer positions with organizations such as the East Allen County Education System, the Meadowbrook P.T.A., Meadowbrook Community and New Haven United Methodist Church. In 1954 Ken was named a Master Mason and so began his long and storied involvement with the Freemasons. He was created a Knight Templar in 1959. Through decades of service he has held many positions of rank and leadership, with acceptance into the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Fort Wayne in 1977, and membership in the Mizpah Shrine Temple in Fort Wayne, and the Gennesaret Tabernacle No. XVII, Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests. He was elected Governor of Indiana York Rite College No. 55 for 1985-86 and received the Order of the Purple Cross in 1985. He served as Secretary of Indiana York Rite College No. 55 from 1987 to May 2006 and was named Secretary of the Year from the York Rite Sovereign College in 2008. Ken and Rita were married September 24, 1988, and enjoyed many years of retirement together. Travel was a favorite hobby and he visited all 50 states, Canada and the British Isles. He made the most of opportunities to learn more about the places he visited. He had the mind of a teacher and problem solver and was always seeking ways to improve the world around him. He was an active and dedicated member of the Irvington United Methodist Church. Visitation will be Friday, April 24, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Washington Memorial Chapel, 9606 E. Washington St., with a Masonic rite at 7:00 p.m. The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 a.m. also at Shirley Brothers, with interment at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, 9700 Allisonville Rd. Memorial contributions in Ken’s memory may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children. www.shirleybrothers.com.

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Kenneth E. Gibson

June 19, 1933 - April 21, 2015