Obituary of Franklyn LeRoy Gibson
Franklyn LeRoy Gibson (known as LeRoy, Lee, Pop and Gpa) was born on February 22, 1922, in
Orange, NJ and died on February 16, 2024 at his residence in Piscataway, days before his 102nd
birthday. He shared his home with his mother and father, Grace and David, his twin sister
Gloria and younger brother Dave. LeRoy also had a large extended family including over 20 first
cousins in NJ, Philadelphia and Virginia. Unfortunately, Gloria was called to her heavenly home
after only 3 years and 3 months of life. Leroy’s mother, father and brother have since been
called home as well.
The family moved to East Orange in 1927 and LeRoy graduated from East Orange HS in 1941,
where he was in the band and ran track. He attended Union Baptist Church in Orange where he
taught vacation bible school and sang in the Young Peoples Chorus, and it was then, where he
met his future wife Lillian Pitts.
LeRoy served in the Army from 1943-1946 attaining the rank of sergeant. He was an operator
of highway construction machinery in New Guinea and the Philippines. Leroy participated in
several choral assembles but none were more rewarding than the North Jersey Philharmonic
Glee Club. The Glee Club performed throughout the region including a performance at the
Washington Cathedral and on the steps of the White House for President Kennedy.
LeRoy worked as a psychiatric technician at Greystone Park Hospital. He earned an Associates
of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy from Alphonsus College and went on to practice
respiratory therapy at Overlook, St Peter’s, Somerset and other hospitals in central Jersey.
LeRoy moved from East Orange to Piscataway in 1971. He is known as a worker and friend to
many civic organizations and neighbors in Piscataway including the Reading Buddies education
program, the River Road Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Domestic Violence Assistance Team, the
Piscataway Senior Citizens and African American Commissions and CERTs.
LeRoy has been blessed with Lillian, his loving wife of seventy-three years (married Feb 10,
1951), his only son Brian Gibson and his wife Donna, two grandchildren, Samantha Gibson-
Hanno and her husband Ted and Alexandra Gibson. He will be missed by his two great-
grandchildren Eleanor Hanno and Camden Hanno and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews
and many friends and colleagues.
Visitation will be held at Piscataway Funeral Home, 18 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 on
Saturday, February 24, 2024 beginning 10:00am. A religious service will begin at 11:30am and
burial will follow at Lake Nelson Memorial Park in Piscataway.