James Darrell Gibson, 85, a long time resident of Cory, Indiana and a retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, passed away at home May 17, 2019. He was born April 8, 1934, north of South Bend, Indiana to Benjamin Franklin Gibson and Cora Maude Rumspurt Gibson. He was preceded in passing by his parents and also by his sister, Patricia Llyod Gibson Chulay and brother-in-law, John Cornell Chulay, and brother David Randall Gibson.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy Sun, and their daughter Leona Ann Gibson, Also surviving are a daughter, Garnet Ruth Gibson Hocker (Jim) of Estes Park, Colorado, a son, James Langley Gibson (Lori) of Gull Lake, Michigan, and a daughter, Patricia Lynn Gibson (Garan) of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Their mother, Roberta Marie Coleman Gibson, of Gull Lake, Michigan, passed away on 1-28-2010. Also surviving are seven grand children, Corie Lindsay Hocker Wendzel (Jason), David Benjamin Hocker (Cerissa), James Daniel Hocker (Samantha), Garrison Riley Hocker (Madison), Susannah Marie Hocker, Madeline Rae Gibson, and James Coleman Gibson.
Also surviving are eight great-grandchildren, Lillian Jaye Wendzel, Tessa Dale Wendzel, Faith Marie Wendzel of New Mexico, James Riley Hocker, Clara Dell Hocker, Elizabeth Afton Hocker, Benjamin Andrew Hocker, and John Henry Hocker. Darrell Gibson attended public school in Ferguson, Missouri and in Perrysville, Indiana, graduating from Perrysville High School in 1952. He received his BS and MS in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University in 1957 and 59.
After working for General Dynamics Corp in San Diego for five years he returned to college at the University of New mexico and received a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1968. After serving as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wyoming, he joined Rose-Hulman in 1971. He was a Visiting Professor at Colorado State University in 1979, 1980, and also spent summers with NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia and the NASA Jet Propulsion Center in Pasadena, CA.
After 44 years as a professor at Rose he retired from his faculty position in 2015. He was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a life member of the American Society of Engineering Education. He was a pilot and aircraft owner and a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association ( Terre Haute Local Chapter 83) and also the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (Since 1955.
) In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoyed living in the country, working in his woods, and gardening. Visitation for Darrell will be held on Wednesday, May 22 at DeBaun Springhill Chapel from 11-1:00 with services starting at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow at Hicks Cemetery in Perrysville IN.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to The Darrell Gibson Scholarship Endowment Fund at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
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