Thomas Francis Gibboney

Thomas Francis Gibboney, 91, ???, formerly of 1525 18th Ave., Altoona, passed away Saturday. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Adam Clayton and Kathryn Elizabeth (Love) Gibboney. He married Meriam Estella (Colby) Fickes on May 27, 1948, in Winchester, Va.; Mrs. Fickes had been widowed during WWII. She preceded him in death on Jan. 18, 1983. Surviving are five children: William (Karen) Fickes of Naugatuck, Conn., Thomas (Charlotte) Gibboney of Gambrills, Md., John (Marie) Gibboney of Middleburg, Adam (Beth) Gibboney of Aliquippa and Louise (Steve) Melhorn of Tyrone; ten grandchildren: Robert (Beth) Fickes and Kandy (Chris) Reilly, both in Connecticut, Amanda (Dustin) Phelps and Matthew (Annemarie) Gibboney, both in Maryland, Justin and John Gibboney, both of Middleburg, Nicole (Shawn) Colescott of Northumberland, Adam and Marissa Gibboney, both of Aliquippa, and Courtney Gority of Altoona; and five great-grandchildren: Jennifer Ellen Fickes, Kaitlyn Kay Reilly, Rhaya Madison Gority, Rowen Michael Fetterman and Hayden Harper Colescott. He is also survived by a sister, Lorraine Wyland of Altoona, and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by six siblings: George, Olive Hoover, Elizabeth "Bessie," John, Mary "Peg" Billings and Joanne; a great-granddaughter, Kamryn Kay Reilly; and his good friend and companion of 27 years, Gladys Luther of Ebensburg. Thomas was a 1939 graduate of Altoona High School. He was first employed at the former Capital Theatre on 11th Avenue and 14th Street in Altoona as an usher and was later employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in the Juniata Shops as a machinist apprentice. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, he answered his country's call and enlisted in the U.S. Army on Jan. 16, 1942. He was assigned to the 3rd U.S. Army Air Force, 477th Bomb Squad, 335th Bomb Group. He received his wings and was qualified as a bombardier, navigator and flight engineer. He served for the duration of WWII and received the WWII Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 8, 1945, with the rank of staff sergeant. After the war, Thomas returned to employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad. In March 1955, he began a career in law enforcement and joined the Altoona Police Department, and he was promoted to detective in 1969. He participated in numerous criminal investigations throughout his career and was quite proud of his service to the city of Altoona. He retired from the APD in 1983 with the rank of lieutenant in the Criminal Investigation Division. For a number of years after his retirement, he was the secretary/treasurer of the Altoona Police Pension Fund. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Mountain City Lodge 8. Thomas' favorite pastime was fishing, and he continued to fish well into his 80s. His interests included current events, politics and a variety of sports. He was a Democrat and a union man.