Charles William “MacGyver” Gibbons, 63, passed away quietly at this home in Fayetteville, Sunday, April 29, 2018. He had suffered a stroke in March and had been in rehabilitation for a month. He was able to come home Wednesday the 25th of April.
He was still disoriented and unsure of himself and his surroundings but recognized his beloved cats, Giga and Mindy. Charles was born September 14, 1954 at Ft. Benning, Ga.
, the son of John Paul and Helen Eileen (Wimer) Gibbons. He moved to Fayetteville when he was very young and lived here until his death. Charles graduated from Morganton School for the Death in 1975.
He worked in the laundry department of the VA Hospital in Fayetteville for 20 years until he retired on disability. For several years as a young man he was part of an all-deaf pit crew for Keith Smith, who raced stock cars. He was active for many years in a Sunday night bowling league at B & B Lanes with his best friend, the late Ron Owens.
Most recently he has been a member of the y Seniors Bowling League at North View Lanes. He married his wife, the former Carolyn Nora Watkins on September 15, 1991 in Hope Mills. Charles is survived by his wife of the home; two step-children, K.C. Wakins of Olympia, Wash.
and Sheila Kathleen Owens (Larry Barton) of Claremore, Okla. ; four step-grandchildren, Kristal Dawn Anderson-Banks, Shon Michael Anderson, Charles Aysa Barton Owens and Amaiya Hunter Rose Owens, all of Claremore, Okla. ; a half-sister, Candace Joye Brown (Billy Ray) of Fayetteville; a brother-in-law, Michael Thomas Watkins of Seattle, Wash.
; four nieces, Nicole Eileen Notto (Jacob) of Omaha, Neb. , Ashley Lynn Taylor (Sgt. Justis Taylor) of Fayetteville, Dawn Michelle Cunningham and Heather Christine Forte (David Alexander), both of Camano Island, Wash.
; a cousin, Lisa Kimpel of Cleveland, Ohio; an aunt, Mrs. Mabel Esther Farley of Mansfield, Ohio; and other more distant relatives and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older brother, John Henry Gibbons. Charles was a caring husband and a good friend, with wonderful sense of humor.
He loved animals and had a special relationship with them. He loved the American eagle; one of his fondest memories was visiting the Carolina Raptor Center at Huntersville, NC, and having “a day with a keeper” where he got to feed one of the eagles. He was an ardent supporter of all first responders.
Charles took great joy in life and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A funeral service will be held at 11 am Saturday, May 5, 2018 in Peace Presbyterian Church 3203 Ramsey St. with Pastor Debra Patterson officiating. Burial will follow in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 9:45 am to 10:45 am prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
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