Mr. Norman Gibson
Ward Wilson Funeral Home and CrematoryViewed: 1173
Posted by: Ward Wilson
Date: Mar 07 2022 4:34 PM
Retired CW4 Norman Gibson, age 73, passed away peacefully on Friday March 4, 2022.
Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Ward Wilson Funeral Home. Entombment will follow at Memory Hill Cemetery with Ward Wilson Funeral Home directing.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday, March 11, 2022.
Norman was born September 20, 1948, in Chicago, IL, the oldest son of the late Frank Hoskins, (biological father). He was raised by his Mother, Evelyn Boyd and Dad, Leonard Boyd.
Norman graduated from Robert A. Waller High School on August 18, 1967, then attended Golden Valley Lutheran College in Minnesota until he joined the U.S. Army as an E3 in 1968. He attended flight school in Fort Worth, TX and Fort Rucker, AL, graduating January 1970 with his Warrant Officer Bars and Army Aviator Wings. Thirty days later, he was sent to Vietnam where he served one year in the 175th Assault Helicopter Company, “Mavericks” before he was transferred to Fort Riley, KS for four months. In 1971, he went back to Fort Rucker, AL for Gunnery School, transitioning to an Experimental Gunnery Program. Norman returned to Vietnam where he served until 1973. He was then reassigned to 101st Airborne Aviation Group in Fort Campbell, KY until 1976. From 1976-1979, he was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. While in Germany, he attended University of Maryland and received his bachelor’s degree in Social Science. In 1979, he completed courses for a UH-1, OH-58 and DEF Race Relation to become a flight Instructor.
On February 14, 1983, Norman was joined in holy matrimony with Anita Elizabeth Matthews. Soon after, he and his blended family moved to Giebelstadt, Germany where he was stationed for four years prior to moving back to Dothan, AL (Fort Rucker) for a year. Norman's final overseas tour was in Seoul, Korea for thirteen months. In 1992 Norman rejoined his family in Dothan, Al where he completed his final year of mliltary service prior to retiring as a Warrant Officer (CW4) on June 30, 1993.
Throughout his career in the military Norman received many awards/honors: Bronze Star Metal, Vietnam Service Metal (4 Service stars), Meritorious Service Metal, Army Commission Medal, (1st OLC), Army Achievement Medal. National Defense Service Medal (1 Bronze star) Armed Forces reserved Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), Republic Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Metal and Master Aviator Badge.
After retiring Norman enrolled at Wallace Community College where he was one of the first students to go through the Physical Therapy program, graduating with honors in 1997. Norman worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant for Care South for a few years before returning to his passion as a Civilian Instrument Flight Instructor at Fort Rucker, AL. Fully retiring in 2016.
Norman’s military career provided him the opportunity to see the world and share invaluable memories with his wife and children. Norman loved his adventures, debates with anyone who would accept the challenge, cruises, mini reunions with friends he met throughout his life and most importantly cheating at game nights with his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Anita Gibson of Dothan, AL, four children, Gregory Blair of Philadelphia, PA, LaWanda Blair-Foster (His Favorite) of Concord, NC, Vulnavia (Leetra) Langston of Atlanta, GA, and Tierra (William) Bradley of Dothan, AL: fourteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters, beloved Aunt Genora Gibson and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Ward Wilson Memory Hill Funeral Home Cemetery and Crematory
2414 Hartford Highway
Dothan, Alabama 36305
334-792-4194
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