William “Billy” Bentley Gibson, 91, husband of Eleanor Barwick Michalowski Gibson, departed for his heavenly home on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008, at his home. Born in Kingstree, he was a son of the late Francis Ewing and Frances Vause Gibson. Mr. Gibson was a member of First Baptist Church and the Triune Sunday School class. He was a former longtime member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, where he served on the Vestry and taught Sunday school. He was a graduate of Sumter High School 1934 and The Citadel Class of 1938. He was a retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army and served as commander of the 67th Anti-Aircraft Battery. He served in Africa, Italy, and Germany during World War II. He was a member of the Sumter Rotary Club and a former member of the Sumter Lions Club. He was a charter member and past president of The Cotillion, a member and past president of the Sumter Citadel Club, and a member of American Legion Post 15 for more than 60 years. He was a life underwriter with Jefferson Standard, which later became Jefferson Pilot and is now Lincoln National Insurance Co. He retired from the insurance business with 65 years of service. Surviving are his devoted wife of 33 years; his loving family, Keary M. Wells and husband, David, of Summerville, retired Col. Joseph Michalowski Jr. and wife, Linda, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Kathy M. Smiley of Sumter, and Kelly Michalowski Brown of Irmo; nine grandchildren, Austin Brown and wife, Amy, Jordan Brown, Casey Brown, Erica S. Ferguson and husband, Brody, Jason Smiley, Tracy M. Marthis, Ashley W. Dial and husband, Kalin, Erin W. Raser and husband, Jacob, and Travis Wells; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Joseph Michalowski III; and his brothers, Edward V. Gibson and Francis “Tubby” Gibson. Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Evergreen Memorial Park with the Rev. Charles Clanton officiating. Grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home, 222 Burns Drive. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 867, Sumter, SC 29151 or to The Citadel, Class of 1938 Scholarship Fund, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386. Tags: 1938
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