Rev. Ronald Edward Gibbons, Ph.D.
On the morning of June 12, 2023 Rev. Dr. Ronald Edward Gibbons made his transition. Born in 1936 in Chicago, Illinois Ron left high school in the “Windy City” at age 17 to join the AirForce, serving from 1954-1958. After an exhilarating working life while becoming a husband, father, uncle and grandfather, Ron ultimately retired as Manager of IT Systems in 1999 from Raytheon/Santa Barbara Research. He continued past retirement a few more years at UCSB as Adjunct Instructor of the International Management Program, then left to enjoy his pastimes and to share treasured moments with family and friends near and far.
After having spent 1959-1960 working in the Arctic Circle, he traveled across Europe (Greece, Turkey, Germany and Italy) working for an adventurous seven years. Ron recently published (on Amazon) his memoirs in his 2023 book “White Alice – A Cold War Story”.
Years afterward, Ron’s studies, collections and increased base of knowledge on the teachings of Edgar Cayce enabled him to give scholarly lectures about Cayce’s revolutionary work. He was always happy to make a presentation on Cayce and spiritual topics such meditation; the meaning and beauty of mandalas, and the exotic poetry of Hafiz. One of Ron’s favorite quotations was, “I see only God. I express only Love. I know only Oneness” and he had these lines made into a keychain pendant for friends.
Notable Achievements:
1968, Project Apollo, Support recognition – Apollo 8, first manned flight around the Moon
1969, Project Apollo, Support recognition – Apollo 11, first manned landing on Moon
Ron earned his PhD in 1990 in Management – Marketing at California Coast University in Santa Ana, CA, and his Certificate of Ordination in 2002 by the World Federation of Unity Churches. He spent 1987 – 2018 at Unity Church, as Board President for 3 years, also enjoying the challenges of church renovation management. Ron’s many other interests included the Santa Barbara Genealogical Society from 2006-2009, where he led DNA classes and studies. From 2005 – 2023 he attended Sunburst Sanctuary in the Lompoc area. He had a lifelong passion for HO Scale Model Railroading, building electronic devices, was thrilled by riding Amtrak trains everywhere and later in life studied HAM and GMRS radio operations, joining the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club from 2020-2023 rising to the HAM Radio level of Licensing as Amateur Extra Class (W6KKG).
Ron succumbed in Santa Barbara to the consequences of six months of treatment for a rare, aggressive and incurable form of Leukemia and Lymphoma, diagnosed in December 2022. We are so very grateful to Santa Barbara’s Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, Duarte’s City of Hope Cancer Center, Cottage Hospital, and VNA Health for their compassionate efforts towards extending Ron’s life to his fullest ability. It comforts us greatly that throughout arduous treatments and even in his last days he was able, with his strong faith in God, to be light-hearted and make amusing comments to appreciate and to lift up the spirits of his truly exceptional caregivers as well as family and friends.
Ron is survived by his son and daughter Ronald A. Gibbons and Helen (Eleni) M. Gibbons; by his grandchildren, Cameron J. A. Gibbons, Dylan A. A. Gibbons and Logan E. J. Gibbons; along with Jeremiah S. Gibbons, Matthew E. Cottrell, Heather Rose Miller, Jonathan R. Miller; and by Ron’s wife, Geraldine Gibbons and stepdaughter, Esther Jenny Schulman.
Smart Cremation is responsible for the final arrangements. A memorial is being planned. Information can be obtained from Sunburst Sanctuary in Lompoc.