Popular bagpiper was Jeep worker
5/21/2005David A. Gibson of Toledo, a former pattern maker at Jeep who was the pipe major for the Zenobia Shrine Corps for 13 years, died Thursday in his daughter s Sylvania home. He was 69.
He died of complications from lung cancer, family members said.
Born in Toledo, Mr. Gibson graduated from DeVilbiss High School and then went to trade school.
He joined the Zenobia Shrine Corps in 1972 and the Zenobia Highlanders in 1978, playing bagpipes at weddings, funerals, and festivals ever since.
He learned to play the bagpipes to please my mother, who was Scottish, said Barbara Foreman, his sister.
He owned and operated Bagpiper s Pub and Eatery at 152 North Summit St. from April, 1999, to October, 2000.
Mr. Gibson married Nancy Ferrell on Jan. 20, 1962.
As pipe major for the Lucas County Sheriff s Pipes and Drum Unit, Mr. Gibson was named by the Zenobia Shrine as the Piper of the Year in 1982 and Highlander of the Year in 1992. He was a wonderful man who was very generous with his time, said daughter Lori Meade.
She said he donated all the money he received from the many venues he played to the National Association of Shriners Hospitals to aid burn and crippled children s units.
He enjoyed traveling to festivals around the state to play bagpipes, his daughter said. She said he also traveled to the Black Isles of northern Scotland a few years ago to visit family members.
Surviving are his former wife, Nancy Gibson; daughters Lori Meade and Diane Gibson; a sister, Barbara Foreman, and two grandchildren.
Visitation will start at 5 p.m. today in the Boyer-Van Wormer-Scott Funeral Home where funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.
The family suggests tributes to the Zenobia Shrine Highlanders Unit.