Ruth W. Gibbs

Ruth W. Gibbs, 102, died March 12, 2025 at Samaritan Summit Village, Watertown with her family by her side.

Ruth was born, with her twin, Charity, on September 8, 1922 in Bronxville, New York to parents Michael and Charity Wilson. After spending her childhood in her family home, Peaceful House, in Litchfield, CT, Ruth attended St. John Baptist School in Mendham, NJ. She started her working   career at James E. Malette and Son Insurance Agency in Connecticut, followed by the Connecticut Junior Republic, a private non-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk, special needs and troubled youth become productive members of their communities.  Ruth served in the United States Navy from 1942 until 1945 as a WWII Era WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service).  She was the only WAVE in the operating room at Norman Navy Base in Oklahoma where she was stationed.  Ruth attended Cambridge Junior College in MA and married Harold Gibbs after the war.  Their daughter, Ruthie, was born in New York City, New York. Ruth and Harold moved to Socorro, NM, where their sons, Charles, and Peter were born. Their son, Eric, was born in Torrington, CT. In 1957, they moved to Tulsa, OK where she was dedicated to raising her four children, one of whom had Down Syndrome. In 1963, Ruth and her children were founders of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, where she also served as founding parish administrator, overseeing and directing an innovative program of lay ministry. She retired in 1999 and later moved to Watertown, N.Y. to live with her son Peter and his family. Ruth was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church where she volunteered in the parish center answering phones. An inspiration to countless others over many generations, her long life was enriched by her love of family, her many friends and dedicated service to those less fortunate. She enjoyed reading, knitting, opera, classical music, and playing bridge, In her younger days, Ruth was an avid skier and tennis player and spent hours climbing trees, playing dress up, having tea parties, reading, beachcombing and attending countless sports games with her six grandchildren. She rafted the Yellowstone River on July 7, 2009, at the age of 87; she loved adventure.

Ruth is survived by: her daughter Ruthie Gibbs and son-in-law Robert Margoshes, Woodinville, WA; her two sons and their wives, The Reverend Charles and Debbie Gibbs, Lawrenceville, NJ and Peter and Linda Gibbs, Watertown, NY; six grandchildren, Michael and Olivia, Benjamin, and Naomi, and Eric and Ethan; two great grandchildren Abigail and Henry.  Her son Eric, four sisters Charity MacDonald, her twin, Markie Trottenberg, Ellen Bent and Emily Runge, and brother William Wilson preceded her in death. 

  There will be a Funeral Service at Trinity Episcopal Church in Watertown on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 10 am.  Arrangements are with D.L. Calarco Funeral Home, Inc.  Condolences may be made at www.dlcalarco.com.

Contributions: In Lieu of Flowers, please make a donation to the Special Olympics in Ruth’s name at https://support.specialolympics.org