Everett Gerard "Bud" Gibson passed away peacefully in his sleep in his home on Thursday, October 2, 2008 after fighting a long but losing battle against pulmonary fibrosis.

Born in Coatesville, PA on October 22 1923 to the late Everett Earl and Isabelle Agnes (Bernard) Gibson, his family moved to Sparrows Point, Maryland in 1936. After graduating from Sparrows Point High School in 1941, Bud enlisted in the Navy on July 16th. While in the Navy he participated in the atomic bomb test on Bikini atoll in the Pacific and made a winter run to Murmansk, Russia during the war in the Atlantic.

He was a life member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans and of Branch #93 of the Fleet Reserve Association. He held ratings of Signalman, Quartermaster and Electronic Technician before retiring from the Navy in August of 1961 as a Chief Petty Officer (CPO). Following his retirement he worked in Baltimore for a year before moving in 1962 to Lexington Park, MD to work for Civil Service at Webster Field.

After retiring from Civil Service in October, 1983 he worked for various contractors before taking full retirement in October 1992. Bud called bingo at Little Flower School for close to 40 years.

He was predeceased by his parents, his identical twin Richard and an infant daughter Laura Marie.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Catherine "Cassie", his son Gerard and his wife Caryl of Edgewater, MD, daughters Sharon Holliday and her husband Michael of Lusby, MD, Gail Raley of Lexington Park, MD and Nancy Hess and her husband Robert of Newark Valley, NY and his furry grand-dog Kiwi.

He is also survived by his older brother William Gibson and his wife Margaret of Dundalk, MD and his sister-in-law Bonnie Gibson of Salisbury, MD. Also surviving are six grandchildren; Mark and Tara Snyder, Regan (Hess) Michaels and her husband Bob, Miranda Snyder and her fiancé Gregory Shade, Catherine and Benjamin Raley and two step-grandchildren Jessica and Teddie Hitt as well as one great-granddaughter Kyla Michaels.

Special thanks to Bonny Lampo for helping Bud and his family in their time of need.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 5, 2008 from 2:00-5:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be said at 3:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 10:00 AM in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Lexington Park, MD with Fr. Jack Kennealy officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gerard Gibson, Robert Hess, Greg Shade, Ben Raley, Vincent Gibson and Pat Hunt. Preston Rose will be an honorary pallbearer.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.