Captain Kenneth Aubrey Gibbins, Jr.

Captain Kenneth (Ken) A. Gibbins, Jr., 79, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2024, at his home in Weatherford, Texas, after a hard-fought battle with leukemia. Ken was born in Noumea, New Caledonia on June 25, 1944. He married Melinda Ames in January 1982.  

Ken grew up in Mineral Wells and graduated from Mineral Wells High School. He was a member of the Weatherford National Guard’s boxing team and competed in Golden Gloves competitions. 

Ken was a war hero and served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1970. He earned his rank of captain by graduating from Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 1966 and then went on to become an Army Ranger. As a Captain, Armor Branch Aviator, Ken served two tours in Vietnam with the B Troop, 7/17^th Air Cavalry Squadron (1967-68) and B Company, 101^st Aviation Battalion, 101^st Airborne Division (1969-70). He was awarded the Silver Star and the Air Medal for combat actions in 1968.

Following the Vietnam War, Ken returned to the US and worked in the automotive business until he was able to get into commercial aviation. As a commercial aviator, he flew airplanes and helicopters for oil companies and the government in Alaska, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia until 1980, at which time he had to give up flying due to medical complications. He then went on to work in the truck transportation field and later began providing support for veterans in need. Ken enjoyed bowling, golfing, having lunch with his friends, telling stories from his travels overseas, and flying helicopters.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth A. Gibbins Sr.; mother, Irene Duncan; stepfather, Walter Duncan; brother, Richard L. Gibbins, whom Ken took care of for many years; former wife, Patricia Kennedy; father-in-law, Wilson Ames; and nephews, Timothy Honsinger and Brandon Ames. 

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Melinda G. Ames-Gibbins; children, Hud S. Gibbins of Houston, Romy L. Sears of Fort Worth, Heather Hatfield (Steve) of Austin, and K.W. Gibbins (Toni) of Aledo; grandchildren, Heylee Sears (Cole) and Reese Sears (Kara), Jude Gibbins and Julian Gibbins of Houston, and Ashton Fulton of Austin; great-grandchildren, Weston Herington and Shepard Herington of Weatherford; siblings, Olga Lyons of Fort Worth and Lynn Gibbins of Weatherford; mother-in-law, Ruby Ames of Weatherford; brothers-in-law, Anthony Ames (Danielle) of Weatherford and Randall Ames of Weatherford; nieces, Yvette Lyons of Fort Worth, Tara Biscardi (Zakk) of Mineral Wells, Amy Gibbins of Granbury, and April Gibbins May of Lantana; nephew, Samuel Ames of Weatherford; and many cousins, friends, and extended family.

A visitation for family and friends will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel in Weatherford, Texas. Services and burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, at a future date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Vietnam War Museum in Mineral Wells, Texas or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.