Craig Alan Gibson

Craig Alan Gibson, age 79, passed away while vacationing in San Antonio, Texas on December 13, 2024, due to complications of a fall. He was born in Wichita, Kansas on April 6, 1945, and shortly after, was adopted by his loving parents, Beulah and William “Lee” Gibson. He graduated from Valley Center High School, Butler County Community College, and St. Francis Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia. Craig loved his profession and the friends he made over his three-decade career as a nurse anesthetist in Wichita. He also enjoyed staying busy with various side jobs and worked as a lifeguard at Wilson Lake from his teens well into his 30s for his mentor, Coach Roy Robertson. He raised cattle off and on for years and co-owned and operated The Office, a dive bar in Valley Center in the 1980s with his wife, Linda.

He married the love of his life, Linda Gibson in 1983. They combined his 3 children and her 2 children from previous marriages into one big family. Watching his kids and later his grandkids play sports brought him great joy and he could not be missed since he was always yelling loud encouragement from the poolside or sideline.

When the kids were grown, Craig and Linda enjoyed attending Renaissance fairs, rock concerts, and traveling together, especially their multiple trips to San Francisco and Hawaii. While in Hawaii, he collected tattoos and toe rings that he proudly wore until his life's end. In their later years, they greatly enjoyed dining out for what seemed like almost every meal at their favorite restaurants, Auntie C’s, Savute’s, Felipe’s, Hoof & Horn, and Kobe’s. They cherished the friends they made at these local establishments. Craig also loved spending time with his life-long friends since childhood in Valley Center and his good friends at the lake.

Craig was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Gladys Gibson Reisner, son Jeff Gibson, and granddaughter Alyssa Simms. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda of Wichita, daughter Stephanie Gibson Senn (Mike) of Newton, son Brian Gibson of Emporia, stepdaughters Cynthia Allensworth and Kristen Allensworth Larneng of Wichita, and grandchildren Brett, Charlie, Chylynn, Celia, Annika, Jakob and Eirik.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 11 at 1 pm in the Valley Center United Methodist Church. Craig did not love dressing up and would be happy if people wore their favorite school or sports jersey, a shirt from their favorite band, a Hawaiian shirt, cowboy boots and jeans, or simply something fun or loud. Suggested memorials can be made to The Wichita Children’s Home.