Date of death: 3/2/2025
Saint Meinrad Class: PH 1952-54
Joseph Lester Gibson, also known as “Smokin Joe”, 87, of Birmingham, Alabama and formerly of Franklin and Greenwood, IN passed away Sunday, March 2, 2025 at Floyd E. “Tut” Fann State Veterans Home in Huntsville, AL.
He was born May 20, 1937 in Montgomery, Daviess County, Indiana to Chester William Gibson and Mary Catherine (Gootee) Gibson. He married Mary Lou (Donahue) Gibson on November 1, 1958 at St. Peter Catholic Church in Montgomery, IN; she preceded him in death on November 1, 2020.
Joseph was a 1955 graduate of Lawrenceville High School in Lawrenceville, IL.
He was a United States Navy Veteran having served on the USS Parle.
Joseph retired from Allison Transmission in Indianapolis as a skilled assembler in the Automatic Transmission assembly area. He previously had worked at Allison Coupon and White Arts Printing Company in Indianapolis.
He was a member of Sts. Francis and Clare Catholic Church in Greenwood. He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed feeding birds, growing rose bushes, gardening, and for the last several years, his boxing classes through Rock Steady Boxing to help fight Parkinson’s disease.
Survivors include a son Kevin J. Gibson of Franklin, IN, two daughters Karen L. Flynn (Brian) of Alabaster, AL and Kristine A. Rodman (Christopher) of Jacksonville, FL, five grandchildren Danielle Markwell (Shad) of Jacksonville, FL, Abigail DeFord (Jacob) of Noblesville, IN, Kelsey Gibson of Greenwood, IN, Gabriel Rodman of Jacksonville, FL and Greyson Rodman of Jacksonville, FL, five great grandchildren Tyler Markwell, Tank DeFord, Amelia Markwell, and Palmer Hennig, and Charlotte Hennig both of Greenwood, IN, a brother James Gibson (Gertrude) of Lawrenceville, IL, step grandchildren Trevor Flynn of Birmingham, AL and Lindsey Lillie (Colin) of Alabaster, AL and a step great grandchild baby Lillie due in August of 2025.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his siblings Ernie Gibson, Margaret Rusch, William Gibson and infant Edwin Chester Gibson.