Tony A. Gibbons

Thomas Anthony Gibbons, or “Tony” as he was known by family and friends, passed away peacefully at his home on January 28, 2026 surrounded by family. He was 105 years old. He was the beloved husband of the late Anna Gibbons (née: Kurth); He is survived by his six children, Katheryn (George) Laur of Holt Summit, MO, Patrice (Bruce) Gwydir of Lake St. Louis, MO, Timothy Gibbons of Maplewood, MO, Bridget (Don) Fox of Des Peres, MO, Michael (Karen) Gibbons of Clayton, MO, John (Jacalyn) Gibbons of Richmond Heights, MO; thirteen, grandchildren; fourteen, great grandchildren (with one more on the way); He is preceded in death by his father, Andrew Gibbons, mother, Beatrice Gibbons (née: Gibbons), brothers, James Gibbons, and Richard Gibbons, sisters, Barbara Potts, and Rita Mae Parris.   

Tony was born to Andrew and Beatrice Gibbons on July 19, 1920 on a farm in Northern Missouri just outside of the town of Edina. He grew up working on the farm during the transition from horse-led plows to gasoline-powered tractors. Always fascinated with aviation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He learned to fly and was shipped to the Philippine Theater flying 126 combat missions in WW2 as a fighter pilot in the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang from 1944 to 1945. Initially based in New Guinea, his fighter group moved northward through the Philippines and eventually into Okinawa, Japan by the end of the war.

After the war, he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from Missouri University and eventually landed a job as a Design Engineer with McDonnell Aircraft Company. He spent 35 years with the company working on fighter aircraft beginning with the Banshee, spanning through the F-4 Phantom, and ending with the F/A-18 Hornet as he rose to the rank of Chief Engineer.

Tony married his hometown sweetheart, Anna Marie Kurth, in 1950. Tony and Anne were wonderful parents to six children: Kathy Laur, Patrice Gwydir, Timothy Gibbons, Bridget Fox, Michael Gibbons, and John Gibbons. Anna passed away in 2015. Tony remained active with his LSL golfing community and sailing with family on Lake Carlyle and the Chesapeake Bay until just a few years ago. He has resided in the City of Lake St. Louis and has been a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Wentzville since 1981. 

Tony will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. 

Memorials: In honor of Tony, memorials may be made to: St. Patrick Catholic Church or Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, in care of Pitman Funeral Home 1545 Wentzville Parkway, Wentzville, Missouri 63385. 

Family is being served by Pitman Funeral Home, Wentzville. 

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