Title: Disciples mourn passing of pastor, former general church executive
Date: August 13, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
99a-56
ST. LOUIS (DNS) -- Friends and family of the National Benevolent Association (NBA) community are mourning the loss of the Rev. William T. Gibble, president emeritus of NBA. He died July 30 in Jacksonville, Fla., after a brief illness.
Gibble, 84, NBA's second president, served from 1971 to 1982. The son of a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister, Dr. Gibble graduated from Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, Texas. He went on to Brite Divinity School, Ft. Worth, for his seminary work and later was awarded three honorary doctor of divinity degrees from Culver Stockton College, Canton, Mo.; Texas Christian University; and Phillips University, Enid, Okla.
Former and present colleagues revered Gibble's wisdom and warmth. "I will most miss his monthly phone calls and those dancing eyes," said NBA president Cindy Dougherty.
Gibble was ordained as a Disciples minister in 1935 at First Christian Church, Red Rock, Okla., one of four congregations he served as a student preacher. During World War II he served as a chaplain with the 9th Armored Division in Europe. For his distinguished Army service he received the Purple Heart with Cluster, and the Bronze Star with Cluster. He was the first chaplain in the first jeep to cross the Rhine River at Remagen Bridge.
Before coming to NBA, Gibble served as pastor to three churches: First Christian Church, Jefferson City, Mo.; University Christian Church, Austin, Texas; and South Street Christian Church, Springfield, Mo. Gibble served as chair (1966-67) and member (1959-67) of the NBA board of trustees, before becoming president of NBA in 1971.
During Gibble's presidency NBA advanced its partnership with the federal government to build housing with Housing and Urban Development funding. In his term of service NBA grew from 19 facilities to 44 facilities, and the number of people served increased from 1,900 to nearly 7,400.
The Rev. William K. Fox, former administrative secretary of the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), called Gibble a good friend and one of his favorite associates. They worked on the joint NBA-National Convocation Task Force, which responded to African-American concerns in the church.
"During his tenure as chief executive officer of NBA, there was expansion of facilities and services," he said. "And there was expansion of the practices of affirmative action in employment, and adoption of inclusiveness in policy formation, board representation, and the availability of services. He was devoted to the cause of affirmative action. He got commitment from the leaders of the church and launched the programs that would be furthered by later NBA presidents Rick Lance and Cindy Dougherty."
The Rev. Richard L. Hamm, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), commented that Gibble's ministry affected the entire church. "Bill's death is not only a loss to his family, but also to the whole church community," he said. "He was one of the kindest, most sincere servants of the Lord as anyone could imagine, in a role as demanding as president of the National Benevolent Association."
In his retirement, Gibble served as president of the board of trustees of the National City Christian Church Corporation, Washington, D.C., from 1987-94. In honor of his contributions to National City Christian Church and to the denomination, he was named a "diplomate" and trustee emeritus in April 1994.
Gibble was memorialized August 5 at Riverside Avenue Christian Church, in Jacksonville, Fla.
He is survived by his wife, Wilma Jeane; his daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Tom Hammelman, and Paula Gibble, of St. Louis, and Denise (Bob) Esselburn, of Vienna, Va.; his sister, Neva Lee (Bob) Oldefest, of Littleton, Colo.; two grandsons, Jim and Charlie Hammelman; two granddaughters, Natalie and Katie Esselburn; and five nieces and nephews. The family is requesting that contributions be made to the National Benevolent Association, or to the Bill Gibble Fund of the National City Christian Church.
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