Peter A-B Gibson, 86, passed away Sunday morning September 4, 2022 in Longwood (Greater Orlando), Florida. He passed peacefully in his home with immediate family members close by.
Peter was born in Austin, Minnesota August 22, 1936 to Ray A. and Barbara C. (Archer-Burton) Gibson but grew up in Watertown, South Dakota where his parents moved in 1943 as new proprietors of the Grand Hotel. He was a 1955 graduate of Watertown High School.
After one year at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Private Gibson served nearly 2 years active duty while stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas until 1958. He then returned to Aberdeen where he received his bachelor of science degree from NSU in 1961.
Shortly after graduation, Peter began his 36-year career at Hormel Foods in sales and marketing based in Fremont, Nebraska, which began his lifelong ‘Big Red’ devotion to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Several years later, he was assigned new sales territories with moves to Butte, Montana and El Paso, Texas.
By 1971 he was transferred to the Seattle (Renton), Washington distribution center, where he worked as west coast sales manager and lived in Bellevue (Newport Hills) for 4 ½ years before transferring to Hormel’s corporate headquarters in Austin, Minnesota in 1975. In 1979, Peter was transferred to Albany, Georgia as plant manager until 1983 when he was relocated to Orlando, Florida to run their sales and distribution operations until he retired at the start of 1997.
Pete (as he was most often called) was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing courses across Central Florida, but mostly Sable Point Country Club and later Wekiva Golf Club where he has had a home for the last 39 years. After retirement, Pete could be found on the course up to five times a week with his long-standing, early morning men’s golf group. Throughout one magical summer, Pete made three (3) hole-in-ones while playing at Sable Point C.C.
Married to the love of his life for 66 years, Peter always said he hit a homerun when he picked her. As 15-year-old high school sweet hearts, their journey together reflected midwestern sensibilities, an adventurous spirit and love for different cultures. Pete and Mary traveled and experienced the world with old and new friends alike. Since moving to Longwood, they both enjoyed playing bridge with several fun groups and welcomed the chance to entertain at home.
Peter Gibson was a man with integrity. His honesty, common sense and understated leadership were qualities he exuded throughout his life. No one was more reliable and on-time early as Pete, who was always the rock of the family and never missed a day of work in 3 ½ decades at Hormel.
Peter was preceded in death by his father and mother and brother David A-B Gibson. He is survived by his loving wife Mary (Skinner) and two sons Michael A-B Gibson and Scott A-B Gibson.
He is also survived by many cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces from his mother’s Archer-Burton side of the family; with almost all located in Central Minnesota or the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area. From his wife’s Skinner side of the family, Peter is survived by numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces; with the majority residing in South Dakota and Minnesota.
A celebration of life get-together of family and friends will take place from 3 to 5 pm on Sunday September 25, 2022 at the family home in Longwood at 336 Needles Court, Longwood, FL 32779.