September 2 , 2021 The Beacon • 29
Local couple celebrates 74 years of marriage
Submitted
Josephine Gibson and Irwin Gibson share a moment of genuine laughter as he expresses that Josephine is his right hand and she says , “ You wanna fight ?”
By Tara Gracyk
Picture this : A young man serving in the military gets hit by an automatic weapon three days before his 19th birthday . Yet he continues to serve almost two more years , fighting in World War II , until he is discharged at the age of 20 in December 1945 . He returns home to Ohio , and a couple months later , he decides to visit a cousin , not knowing he would end up meeting the love of his life .
“ I always say it took me a year to catch her ,” said Irwin Gibson , 96 of Coshocton , as he recalls courting his wife , Josephine Gibson , 91 .
Irwin Gibson shared how there was another man in the picture vying for the attention of the young lady who had captured his heart . “ I remember she had already went on to church , and when I got there , this other boy was sitting beside her . I came up from behind and walked into the pew , stood between her and him , looked him in the eye and said , ‘ Move over .’ Then I sat down next to her .”
Josephine Angel was 15 at the time and lived on the farm with her parents . She was child number six out of 16 children . It was Irwin Gibson ’ s first cousin who married Josephine ’ s brother , allowing Irwin and Josephine ’ s paths to cross .
“ I think she went out with
me because I had a car ,” Irwin Gibson said .
Josephine Gibson confirmed he did in fact have a car and she did like that , but she also expressed she liked that he helped with the work on the farm too .
Irwin Gibson was driving a 1941 Mercury , and he was helping Josephine out of the vehicle when he asked her to marry him . He said her mother went shopping with her and bought her wedding dress in Huntington , West Virginia . However , her parents were not at the wedding .
The church they all attended was having a 200- year anniversary . Afterward , Irwin , Josephine , Josephine ’ s brother Ralph and
Soccer players unite
Submitted
The American Cancer Society benefited from the love of soccer in Coshocton County . A spur of the moment idea from Braeden Wheeler , a text to a friend and four days later , a pickup soccer game was held July 27 at Kids America . Wheeler said , “ I texted Drew ( Ireland ) and asked him if he ’ d like to get a big group of us together for a pickup soccer game while raising money for the American Cancer Society . We charged every player $ 5 to play and left a donation jar for spectators . The turnout was way more than we could have asked for .” The event raised more than $ 250 for the society . Ireland said , “ Everyone who came kept asking when the next one will be . I bet with a little more planning , we will have an amazing outcome for future events .” The young men are planning on making this an annual event for Coshocton and calling it Coshocton County Kick for a Cure .
File
Irwin Gibson courted his wife Josephine Gibson shortly after returning home from World War II .
his wife Gladys all went to Rev . Charles Slusher ’ s house .
“ We got married at the pastor ’ s house with his mother being our witness ,” Irwin Gibson said .
Irwin Gibson and Josephine Angel wed on June 7 , 1947 .
They had four children , Rita Kay , Michael Ray ( deceased ), Connie Sue and Randy Allen . They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary at their home in Coshocton in June with their family . They have six grandchildren with one deceased and 10 great-grandchildren with one on the way .
The couple has resided in Coshocton County since
Submitted Irwin Gibson and Josephine Angel wed on June 7 , 1947 .
1973 . Irwin Gibson retired as project superintendent of the Wills Creek U . S . Army Corp of Engineers in 1982 . And he has served at approximately 602 military funerals here in Coshocton County alone . Josephine Gibson worked at the glove company in Coshocton and has quilted many quilts over the years .
When asked what the secret is to a long-lasting marriage , Irwin Gibson said , “ Loving each other . That ’ s all . If you love someone , you don ’ t squabble , fuss and fight . If you love them , you love them . I love Josephine because she is Josephine .”
In other words , when you love someone , you love them
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Irwin Gibson elaborated by explaining that when couples argue , they risk saying words they can ’ t retract , and someone always ends up being wrong and someone ends up being right . Instead , he said , “ Never argue . Turn and walk away . It will resolve itself without you
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