Thomas J. Gibbons, Decorated War Hero, of Plymouth Meeting

Thomas J. Gibbons, of Plymouth Meeting, died Friday, Jan. 3, at Coatesville Medical Center of Coatesville. He was 86.

Born in West Conshohocken, he was a resident of Plymouth Meeting for over 40 years and a member of Epiphany of Our Lord RC Church of Plymouth Meeting.

Gibbons was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving in World War II and the Korean War.  He completed 36 combat missions with the 8th Air Force during World War II and during the Korean War he was Chief of a Radar Installation Crew on the long range "Dewline." He received the American Theater Medal, European African Middle Eastern Medal with three Bronze Battle Stars, Air Medal with four Bronze Clusters and the Victory Medal. 

See the whole obituary on the Moore, Snear and Ruggiero Funeral Home website here.

Gibbons is survived by his wife, Rita D. (Purcell) Gibbons of Plymouth Meeting; two sons, Thomas Jr. of Norristown and Kevin Gibbons of King of Prussia; three daughters, Donna White of Conshohocken, Karen Ferrier of Conshohocken, and Christina Keller of King of Prussia; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Paul; a daughter, Patricia; two brothers, the Rev. William Gibbons and the Rev. John Gibbons; and four sisters, Mary Harrington, Agnes Fowler, Margaret Bianco and Helen Gallagher.

His funeral Mass was held Wednesday at the Epiphany of Our Lord RC Church. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery.