Edward C. Gibson

Former Meadville Police Chief Edward C. Gibson, 83, of Meadville, died Saturday, June 21, 1980, at Spencer Hospital after a period of failing health.

Gibson retired in 1963 as Meadville Police Chief since July 1, 1938.  He served as jury commissioner for Crawford County Court systems from 1963 to 1968.

Chief Gibson graduated in 1945 from a federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.  He was a life member and past president of Western PA Chiefs of Police Assn. and of the PA  Chiefs of Police Assn.  He was a life member of the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police.  He was a member of the PA Assn. of Retired Police Officers.  He was an organizer and charter member of Col. Lewis Walker Lodge No. 97, Fraternal Order of Police, and help to found the lodge aux. and city police pension fund.

Gibson became a member of the police department March 16, 1926.  He was appointed acting chief May 10, 1938, and was named chief in July of that year.

Gibson was born in December 28, 1896, in Hayfield Township, son of Archibald and Anna Matilda Cropp Gibson.  He married Orpha Cutshall in 1914.  She died in 1974.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church; Crawford Masonic Lodge 234, of which he was past master; Coudersport and New Castle Scottish Rite Bodies; Zem Zem Shrine Temple of Erie; Crawford County Shrine Club.  He was a life member of Elks Lodge 219.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Alfred (Dorothy) Adsit of Meadville and Miss Ruth Gibson at home; a brother, Harold P. Gibson of Meadville; a half brother, David McNutt of Meadville; one grandson and three great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Helen Smith.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Dennys Cemetery.