W. Kenneth Gibbs

W. Kenneth Gibbs, age 91, a lifelong resident of Dover, died Monday, July 21, 2014, in Park Village Health Care Center.

Born November 18, 1922, he was a son of the late Walter E. and Ladema M. (Freed) Gibbs. Kenneth attended Dover High School, graduating in 1941. He was an accomplished alto saxophone and clarinet player in the Dover High Concert Band, and went to the National Band Contest at Flint Michigan with the late L.H. Alexander where he was awarded a Superior Rating with his alto sax solo. Kenneth went on to attend Ohio University playing in the Marching 110. He served in the U.S. Army Force during the Second World War, and played in the 452nd Army Air Force Band of Wright Field at Dayton. He worked in the Aero Medical Laboratory, which studied high-altitude flying. Following the war, Kenneth returned to Dover and married the former Betty J. Schumacher on August 18, 1946 they would have celebrated their sixty-eighth wedding anniversary next month. The couple relocated temporarily to Athens and O.U. where Kenneth resumed his studies.

On their return to Dover, Kenneth was employed by the Dover Motor Car Co., a business that started as a horse and carriage livery founded by his grandfather in the 19th Century, ultimately becoming its president. Dover Motor Car sold and repaired Hudson, Packard, and later, American Motors and Jeep automobiles. Kenneth took great pride in working alongside his son in the business when he came of age. Kenneth retired in 1987, about the time that AMC went out of business.

Music was close to Kenneth's heart all of his life, surpassed only by his love of family. He was an original member of the locally well-known Lew Wood Orchestra. Kenneth also headed his own dance band called the Neons. Additionally, he played music with his son - until the age of 89 - in the Marv Herbert Orchestra of Sherrodsville.

He enjoyed camping and traveling in his Airstream trailer, and was a member of the Tusco Traveliers and the Akron Unit of the Airstream Club. In his retirement, Kenneth and Betty wintered in Dade City, Florida, where Kenneth was a member of the Travelers Rest Radio Club (he was a member back home of the Tusco Amateur Radio Club), and played in the German Band, Dixieland Band and the Travelaires Dance Band.

In later years, he especially enjoyed the Senior Citizens Band at Dover's Memorial Hall and meeting and playing with a group of local musicians every Thursday night. He liked helping his son with his collection of antique automobiles and traveled with him to many car shows and swap meets over the years.

Kenneth was a loving and beloved husband and father who gave freely of his time, talent and treasure - he was always there to help.

In addition to his wife, Betty, he is survived by his daughter, Deborah J. Kerr (husband, David) of Cleves, and his son, Robert K. Gibbs (companion, Heather A. Immel) of Dover.
Besides his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by an infant son, James Kenneth Gibbs, a sister, Rose Marie Stoffer, and a brother, Richard J. Gibbs.

Kenneth also loved dogs, and, throughout the years, there was always a dog in his home many adopted from the pound they all became special members of the Gibbs family.

In keeping with Kenneth's wishes, he will be cremated and a graveside service, open to the public, will be held Friday, July 25, at 1:30 p.m., in Dover Burial Park. Rev. Thomas J. Dunkle of St. John's United Church of Christ, Dover, will officiate. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Kenneth, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the Toland-Herzig website.

The family suggests that contributions in Kenneth's memory be made to St. John's United Church of Christ, 409 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, Ohio 44622.