Frederick Gibbs

The Reverend Frederick Preyer Gibbs, 89, died Thursday, May 14, in Lynchburg, Virginia. A native of Canton, Ohio, he was a graduate of Lehman High School, The College and William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, and Princeton Theological Seminary. He did post graduate work at the University at Edinburgh, Scotland.

An ordained Presbyterian minister, Mr. Gibbs served as assistant minister at First Presbyterian (Christ Presbyterian) in Canton and Head of Staff in Presbyterian churches in East Liverpool, Ohio; Tarentum, Pennsylvania, Ashland Ohio; Richmond, Virginia; and pepper Pike, Ohio.

His love of teaching was fulfilled teaching courses for Ashland University, Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia and at Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland where he taught Latin grammar and literature.

His memberships included Lambda Chi Alpha, social fraternity, and Eta Sigma Phi, national honorary society for the study of classical languages. He was a member of Rotary Club, young Men’s Business Club and the Wagner Society of Ohio.

In 1998 Mr. Gibbs retired to Williamsburg where he was a costumed interpreter for Colonial Williamsburg and a tour guide for historic Bruton Parish (Episcopal) Church and a host for the frequent candlelight concerts at the church. His involvement with his alma mater included volunteering in the college library and authoring its history from 1693 to the present. He served as president of the local alumni chapter of the college and in 2010 was honored with the Alumni Service Award for distinguished service.

A lifelong student of classical music, he served on the boards of the Ashland and Canton Symphonies. He was also an award-winning watercolorist, avid reader, photographer and pet lover. Skeet shooting and riding horses was an early passion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Theodore V. Gibbs; siblings, Grace Gibbs Barnhart, Theodore V. Gibbs Jr. AND Lewis a Gibbs.

Survivors include his wife of almost 62 years, Judith Small Gibbs; sons, Frederick (Patricia) of Bedford, New Hampshire; Joshua (Kristin) of Chagrin Fall, Ohio; and Peter of Lynchburg, Virginia; grandchildren, Amanda, Dylan, Alison, Pearce, Justus, Ian, Graham and Merritt, and great grandson, Noah.

A Memorial Service will be held in Canton at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.