ATSF An old time Santa Fe employee and historian passes

r_i_straw · Mar 6, 2006

Art Gibson posted this on the ATSF email List.

Sadly, I inform you folks of the death of William Oliver Gibson, age 94.
Known to most as "Ollie", he lived in retirement at Grants Pass, Oregon for
the past 25 years or so. He died this morning at approx. 11:30 a.m. PST.
Ollie was associated with the Santa Fe's Communication Dept. for over 45
years. You may have read his stories of his experiences in "Tales of a Wire
Twister" . He was a railfan for most of his life and documented some of his
travels in the book titled "Engine Picture Taker". His last book was "Topeka
Rails" telling about his early days in his hometown of Topeka, Kansas.
Oliver was preceeded in death, by his wife Marie and his brother Gardner
(also a Santa Fe communications man out of Amarillo) and both of his
sisters. He is survived by several nieces and nephews and his long time
buddy, Dan Wilkinson.
Many folks ask about my relationship to Oliver. We are not blood
related, but he and my Dad, William A. Gibson Sr. were long-time friends.
Oliver's parents lived next door to my maternal Grandparents, so my Mother
knew him longer than she did my Dad. Outside of my Dad, Oliver was the first
person to hold me as a newborn. I have literally known him every day of my
life. As mentioned earlier, no blood relationship, but as Ollie would say
when he called me, "this is your Uncle who is not your Uncle". I shall miss
him, his stories of Santa Fe glory days and the sage advice I received when
needed.
Art Gibson, a.k.a. William A. Gibson Jr., the nephew who was not his
nephew!
Click to expand...

Stourbridge Lion · Mar 6, 2006

fitz · Mar 6, 2006

Russell, it's always sad to hear of the passing of a railroader. Look at it this way, he's in a better place now, and at 94 he probably saw more life than he needed to see. Sorry to hear of your personal loss.

BoxcabE50 · Mar 6, 2006

He wrote books of his memories for the rest of us. If only more railroaders did the same.

Boxcab E50

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ATSF An old time Santa Fe employee and historian passes

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