Eleanor L. Gibbs

Eleanor L. Gibbs, 91, of Toledo, Ohio passed away peacefully on Friday, November 24, 2023, with family by her side. She was born on September 29, 1932, in Wadsworth, Ohio, to Clarence and Doris (Kreider) Fixler.

Eleanor was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. After growing up in Wadsworth she attended Ohio University where she met her husband, John. They both graduated in 1954 and quickly got married moving to Columbus where she taught English & Latin at Bexley High School while John was studying Medicine at The Ohio State University. After John graduated medical school, they moved to Toledo for his internship and Eleanor tutored a student in Ottawa Hills that had polio and was confined to an iron lung.

When John entered the Navy, Eleanor and he were stationed at Barber’s Point on Oahu (Hawaii) and on Midway Island. Their sons were born during those years (Jeff in Honolulu and Steve on Midway). After serving, the family returned to Toledo where John secured a partnership at a family practice, eventually starting his own. Eleanor not only managed the books for this practice but took an active role in raising her children and volunteering extra time to many charitable causes in the community.

At home, she ran a well-organized but loving/supporting environment and always made others feel welcome in her family. Outside the home, Eleanor volunteered in many organizations including The Toledo Hospital Auxiliary, Alpha Gamma Delta, Symphony Board, Mother’s Study Group, Red Hat Society, Boy Scouts of America and many more. She was also extremely active at Hope Lutheran Church where she was a founding member of the Co-op Preschool and worked with the Hope Lutheran Foundation.

In her free time, she loved spending time with her family and took many memorable trips around the world. Two of her favorite destinations were Rome, Italy and Hawaii. Her most memorable vacation of all was the annual family trip to Clear Lake, Indiana, which became a tradition that everyone looked forward to over the years. The lake family has been a strong group of friends and supporters of Eleanor’s for more than 55 years and she loved sitting on the dock and playing dominos with them. Eleanor also found joy in beautiful art, classical music, and in knitting new creations for her family and friends. She was truly a special person whose memory will be cherished by all who knew her.

She is survived by her sons, Jeff Gibbs, Steve (Debbie) Gibbs; grandchildren, Grant (Meredith), Emily, Ben (Hannah), and Megan; niece, Christine Brubaker (Jim); and daughter-in-law, Susan Gibbs. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. John B. Gibbs; sister, Joanne Heykoop; and parents.

Family and friends are welcome to attend Eleanor’s funeral service on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Hope Lutheran Church, 2201 Secor Rd, Toledo, at 2 p.m. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you make a memorial donation in Eleanor’s name to Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services at www.dixoncenter.org or by mail to: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, The Fedcap Group, 633 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Or a charity of your choice.

Condolences can be sent directly at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com

In closing, the family would like to thank the staff at the Otterbein Sunset House Senior Life Community & Ashanti Hospice where Eleanor received loving care and support over the last few years.