6/8/2014 7:27:26 AM

Edwin Roger “Ed” Gibbens, age 77, of Forestville, NY succumbed to Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at Buffalo General Hospital after a valiant five-month battle fighting this malady.

The sixth of seven children, Ed was born at home on October 9, 1936 in South Stockton, NY to Elmer and Gladys Gibbens.

He graduated from Cassadaga Valley Central School in June 1954. He retired from the US Navy as a Petty Officer, First Class, in November 1975 after 20 years of active service, attached to the USS Lexington as an Aviation Electrician. After completing culinary school he became a chef, working in some of Jamestown, NY’s finer restaurants.

Ed completed his AA Degree in 1978 at Jamestown Community College. In 1983 he bought a home on 11 acres of land in Forestville, NY. At his retirement party from Dunkirk Ice Cream in 1988, he met Debora Dickinson (nee Gdula) of Silver Creek, NY. They were married in Forestville, NY on September 1, 1989.

Ed served the community of Sinclairville, NY as a volunteer fire fighter and the community of Forestville, NY as a member of the American Legion Post and the Fleet Reserve. He enjoyed gardening, camping, and traveling around this great nation, generous in all ways with those whom he loved. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, robust laughter, good cooking and love of life.

Survived by his wife of almost 25 years, Debbie, of Forestville, NY; son Arthur (Renee) Gibbens of Cottage Grove, MN and their children Mathias of Tucson, AZ, Hannah-Renee (Jonathan) Hardy of Houghton, NY and Philip of Cottage Grove, MN; daughter Sue (Ivan) Chompalov of Clymer, NY and her children Nathen (Allison) Lang and their son Jonathan of Clymer, NY, and Xavier Whitcome of Clymer, NY; daughter Brenda (Matthew) Hitchcock of Randolph, NY: son Roger (Monique) Gibbens of Chattanooga, TN and their children Aimee and David of Chattanooga, TN; and Debbie’s son Martin (Laura) Dickinson of Buffalo, NY; son Christian (Trishia) Dickinson of Wilton, NY and their children Zachary, Juliahna and Adalyn; and daughter Sarah (Benjamin) Smith of Silver Creek, NY and their daughters Hannah, Jessica and Willow. Also survived by sister Ann Forinash of St. Augustine, FL; brother Ellsworth (Serena) Gibbens of Jacksonville, FL; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Predeceased by his sister Eva Truesdale of Terre Haute, IN; brother Elmer Gibbens of Jamestown, NY; brother Andrew Gibbens of Jacksonville, FL; and sister Flora Rolph of Jamestown, NY.

Because Ed opted to donate his body to science so that research can be done to help others afflicted with MDS, a private interment with full military honors will be held later this summer. Memorials preferred to the Disabled Veterans of America or the Wounded Warriors Project.