DATE: Friday, June 20, 1997                 TAG: 9706200586

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: AFTON                             LENGTH:   46 lines

JOAN W. GIBSON

Joan Waggoner Gibson, 59, of the 8600 block of Rockfish Valley Highway died Friday morning, June 13, 1997, at her home. She fought ovarian cancer for more than 3 1/2 years.

She was born April 12, 1938, in Ava, Mo., a daughter of William Turrell and Gertrudge Means Waggoner.

She lived in Virginia Beach from 1970-93, during which time she resided in 1440 Watersedge Drive. After raising four children, she attended Virginia Wesleyan College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1976. She attended the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary and graduated in 1979. She practiced law in Virginia Beach and ran for Virginia House of Delegates, 82nd District, in 1983. She was a past president of the Virginia Women's Attorneys Association. From 1993 to the present, Mrs. Gibson's pursuits included real estate development, investment, and various church and community projects. She was proprietor of Woodley Farm from 1986.

She was a member of King's Grant Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, and Rockfish Presbyterian Church, Nellysford, Va. She was a member of the Rockfish Valley Ruritan Club, the Oak Ridge Hunt Club and the Nelson County Hospitality and Travel Association. She was also in the Nature Conservancy, Habitat for Humanity and the Sierra Club.

Surviving are three daughters, a son and their spouses, Marie and Bruce Spiro of Virginia Beach, Eric Gibson and Theresa Stevens, formerly of Virginia Beach, Melissa and Todd Ames of Lanaken, Belgium, Jessica and William Withers of Lynchburg, Va.; husband, Jack D. Gibson of Virginia Beach; eight grandchildren; four sisters, Mavis McAvoy of Bowie, Md., Frances Roelke of Knoxville, Md., Lois Moore of Ledyard, Conn. and Mary Kriesvelt of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Sam Waggoner of Kansas City, Mo., and Bill Waggoner of Douglas County, Mo.; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Waggoner.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held by the family at Mrs. Gibson's residence at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 22.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to: Cancer Center in memory of Joan Gibson, addressed to UVA Health Sciences Center, Cancer Center, c/o Toni Ross, Box 334, Charlottesville, Va. 22908.

Arrangements are through McDow Funeral Home, where there will be neither viewing nor visitation.

Our hearts grieve for the loss of a great mother, woman and friend. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu