In his 92nd year, our dear Father, Wilfred Leo Gibson passed away on May 6, 2026, peacefully surrounded by his family.
Wilfred was born in the small community of Gibson Woods in Kings Co., Nova Scotia.
He was the middle child of sixteen children born to the late Lucy Viner and the late Leander Gibson.
Wilfred grew up on a farm and at the age of 8 years old, he had his first job spraying the apple Orchards for the neighboring farms using a single horse cart.
Wilfred had a love of horses and by the age of 17, he had his own team of chestnut heavy horses named Chubb and Peg. He spent a season in the lumber woods with his team, hauling logs amongst the other teamsters.
Wilfred, at the age of 21 joined the 4 RCHA Royal Canadian Army in Utopia, New Brunswick.
At the age of 25, he was an elite amateur boxer and one of the best middleweights in Canada at this time with a record of 15 knockouts and 2 losses.
Wilfred won two championship titles in his boxing career; the Canadian Army Light Middleweight Championship in 1957 and the Eastern Command Middleweight Championship in 1958.
By the end of his Army career, he was posted to Petawawa, Ontario, and it was there that he left the service and started his career in the grocery business. He worked at Maple Leaf Services in Petawawa and then moved to Chalk River and took over as Assistant Manager, then Manager of the A&P Grocery Store in Deep River, Ontario. His career lasted thirty-three years before retiring.
Wilfred had a strong love for his large family; he always made time for his cherished grandchildren, passing down stories of his memorable life experiences and positive words of wisdom.
He was an avid golfer, gardener and card player. Known to all as Gib or Gibby, he was a leader and pilar of his community.
Wilfred was widowed by his beloved Wife Alice Pearl Marguerite (Jones) whom he spent thirty-six wonderful years raising their blended families. He is survived by his Children Pennie (deceased), Karen (Les), Jocelyn, Wendy (Alister), Sherry, Gloria, Wilfred Jr., Gary (Sue), Kimberlee (David), Fawn (Barry) and Paige (Carmelo). His children have given him thirty-three Grandchildren, thirty-six Great Grandchildren and 4 Great-Great-Grandchildren.
He is survived by Sisters Leah, Bernice, Sylvia, Judy and his youngest Brother Carl. Predeceased by his siblings Maude, Eugene, Shirley, Isabelle, Geraldine, Murielle, Avon, Johnny, Wayne and Douglas.
Wilfred’s funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s United Church, 40 St. Joseph Street, Chalk River, Ontario, followed by a luncheon at the Lions Hall in Chalk River.
Condolence messages may be sent to: www.cfo.coop