William Joel Gibson, Sr., a baseball and basketball player at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington who was inducted into the UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame, died Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. He was 74.
Mr. Gibson also played baseball at North Carolina State University and, professionally, played baseball in the 1960s with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago White Sox. He became a member of the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Mr. Gibson retired from Piedmont (USAirways) Airlines with over 25 years of service. He was a member of Masonboro Baptist Church, enjoyed fishing and was a very active golfer at courses in Wilmington and the surrounding area. After he retired, he enjoyed driving a courtesy van for the Bob King Automobile Dealership.
He was born in Gastonia on July 1, 1939, and was preceded in death by his parents, William Tanner Gibson and Addie Truett Gibson and siblings, Colleen Martin, Richard Gibson and Freddie Gibson.
Mr. Gibson is survived by his wife of 52 years, Gail Traister Gibson; children, William Joel “Joby” Gibson, Jr., Suzanne Gibson Danford and Paige Gibson Highfill and husband, Tyler Wayne Highfill; grandchildren, Kendall Reece Danford, Kayla Nicole Danford, Richard Tanner Gibson, Trevor Joel Gibson, Benjamin Robert Highfill and Samuel Owen Highfill; and sisters, Jenelle Faulkner and Marlene Conner and husband, Samuel.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, at Andrews Mortuary Valley Chapel, 4108 South College Road, Wilmington. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, at Masonboro Baptist Church, 1501 Beasley Road, Wilmington, with Dr. Gordon Wright officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Masonboro Baptist Church Audio-Visual Fund.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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