Dover – Carol D. Gibbs, 87, of Dover, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 24, 2019 with her family by her side. She was born in New Rochelle, NY on May 26, 1931, to the late Harold and Frederica (Higginbotham) Dingee. Raised in New Rochelle, she graduated from Rye Country Day School and went on to study chemistry at Mount Holyoke College.
She married her husband of 67 years, Louis A. Gibbs, on July 28, 1951 and dedicated her life to raising her family. As a child and teenager Carol was always active in the Presbyterian Church of New Rochelle. She could be found volunteering in the nursery school or teaching Sunday school.
Her faith was always important to her and shaped her as a giving person and a good Christian. Carol was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Church by the Sea, both of Fort Lauderdale, where she lived up until April of 2018, when she and Lou moved north to be closer to family. She also attended the Westport Federated Church in Westport, NY during the summer months where she and Lou had camps on Lake Champlain and had started an apple orchard (Bessboro Orchards) many years ago.
She enjoyed rug hooking, tending to her 750 apple trees, walking on the beach in front of her home in Fort Lauderdale, reading mystery novels, spending time at the point on Lake Champlain, all her beloved family pets, volunteering, and traveling. She was also an avid shopper and loved shopping with her granddaughters. Carol spent much of her time at the various Presbyterian churches where she was a member volunteering in the women’s groups making pillows for cancer patients and teddy bears for ill children and packages for soldiers.
She was also one of the oldest and longest members of the Lago Mar Beach Club where she spent many happy times with family and friends hosting meals and holidays. She visited various countries over the years including: Russia, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Germany, Holland, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Mexico, and Canada among others. Her favorite places were Italy, the Galapagos Islands, Russia, and Alaska.
She made her home with her family in many places throughout her adult years including Augusta, GA, New Rochelle, NY, Mahopac, NY, Larchmont Woods, NY, Rye, NY, Greenwich, CT, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Pompano Beach, FL, Dover, NH, and summers in Westport, NY. Wherever she was, her home was inviting and decked out for whatever holiday was near. She always had a home cooked meal for her family and guests and baked goods in the oven.
She was an amazing cook and baker, and was known by friends of her children, and later grandchildren, as having the best snacks in town (and making the tastiest apple crisp from her home grown apples). Carol was always thinking of others; she had a HUGE heart. She touched so many people in her 87 years.
A generous person always giving of herself. Her kind spirit, giving nature, love of animals and nature, impeccable manners, graciousness, and volunteerism, will live on in her family members. Her presence will always be in their hearts and memories.
In addition to her loving husband Louis of Dover, surviving family members include her children, Elizabeth Fredrickson and her husband James of Sharon, NH, Peter Gibbs and his wife Lauren of Shelburne, VT; Grandchildren, Rebecca Anne Dixon and her husband Rick Stevenson of Sanford, ME, Virginia Dixon Fennell of Peterborough, NH, Kathleen Fredrickson of Woburn, MA, Elizabeth Fredrickson Costa and her husband Fellipe of Framingham, MA, Thomas Gibbs of Pompano Beach, FL, Louise Gibbs of Shelburne, VT; great grandchildren, Jack and Jasper Fennell and Varik Costa. She is also survived by her sister-in-law and childhood friend Mary Gibbs Farrell of Malta, NY; close cousin Jacqueline Schneer Ross of Brewster, NY, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her sister Jean Dingee Harold and her niece Carol Whitney Thomason both formerly of Sag Harbor, NY.
Services will be held at the Westport Federated Church in Westport, NY at a later date in the summer with a reception to follow. All are encouraged to attend and celebrate Carol’s life. A private burial will be held at the Hillside Cemetery in Westport, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Westport Federated Church, 6486 Main St. Westport, NY 12993 or the Westport Library Association , 6 Harris Lane, Westport, NY 12993. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Carol D. Gibbs please visit our Sympathy Store.
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