Colonel Raymond F. Gibney

Colonel Raymond Francis Gibney, U.S. Army, retired, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on October 2, 2007, in Decatur, Georgia. He was born August 18, 1919, to Terrence and Laura Gibney, in the Bronx, NY. As a tank commander in World War II, 40th Tank Battalion, 7th Armored Division, the young lieutenant's unit helped secure the routes necessary for the breakout of Allied troops in the Battle of the Bulge. Col. Gibney did not often speak of his wartime experiences, but he occasionally expressed amazement at surviving the brutal winter in the Ardennes, where Allied troops were outnumbered by German infantry three-to-one. At the conclusion of the war, Col. Gibney, who spoke fluent German, stayed on in Europe to provide security during the Nuremberg war crimes trials. During the height of the Cold War, Col. Gibney served as field advisor to the Third Turkish Army, whose tanks were positioned on the border with the Soviet Union. He retired from the Army in 1972 as Deputy Chief of Staff, Comptroller, Third U.S. Army, at Ft. McPherson, Georgia. Col. Gibney received numerous awards and decorations during the span of his career including the Legion of Merit (First Oak Leaf Cluster). In retirement he continued the love of learning instilled by his Jesuit teachers at Fordham Prep and Fordham College by earning a law degree when he was well into his fifties. In the words of one of his grandchildren, "Mostly, he was just my grandfather." A lifelong sports enthusiast, "Granddaddy" alternately rooted for and cursed the Braves and Falcons. He played the senior tennis circuit all over the country, accompanied by his wife, June, the love of his life. Ray was consistently ranked among the top 5 senior players in Georgia through 2006. In the words of another grandchild, now serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, "He was an amazing man - my inspiration - and I hope I live to be half the man that he was." Ray is survived by his wife of 64 years, June, as well as children, Hilary Farbrother, Terrence Gibney and wife Meghan, and Ellen Peppler and husband Charles, ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and another on the way. He will be buried with full military honors Monday, October 8, at Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, following an 11 AM Funeral Mass at St. Thomas More in Decatur. Visitation is Sunday, October 7, at A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, 2 - 5 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, or to The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037.  It is altogether fitting that this kind and gentle man, with his inexhaustible supply of puns, his love of animals, his sparkling blue eyes and a smile that could light a darkened room, went to his heavenly Father on the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Ray - "Daddy" - was ever our guardian, guide, friend and support. As was written of him in his 1936 prep school yearbook: "Sorrowfully we see him depart, and although he goes from our sight, he will remain always in our hearts."  A. S. Turner & Sons