John Crampton Gibbons, 84, 630 N. Cherry St., Celina, died at 10 p.m. Dec. 12, 2008, at Celina Manor Nursing Home.

He was born Dec. 18, 1923, in Celina, to John T. and Ruth Crampton Gibbons. On June 2, 1945, he married Rita E. Mersman, who survives.

Other survivors are his children, John (Pamela), Sonoma, Calif., Kim (Cindy) and Beverly (Mark) Kuenning, all of Celina, Susan (Jim) Buschur, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Kathy (Dan) Kennard, Findlay; a sister, Roseann Davis, Deland, Fla.; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was the administrator of the former Gibbons Hospital in Celina until retiring June 30, 1980. He was president of the Sertoma Club, and past president of the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, both of Celina. He was a member and past officer and trustee of the Mercer County Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, served as the county chairman for polio for 10 years and on the board of directors of the former Mutual Savings, the Union Building & Loan and Central Savings. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, all of Celina. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and taught at the Lab School and W.A.C's in Denver after the war before attending medical school in Japan. He graduated from Celina High School in 1941, attended Wesleyn University and received a bachelor's degree in medical technology from The Ohio State University, Columbus.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. James McCabe officiating. Burial is at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery, Celina, with military honors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, both of Celina.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Lehman-Hogenkamp-Dzendzel Funeral Home, Celina, and one hour prior to Mass at the church.

Contributions can be made to the church's endowment fund or State of the Heart Hospice.

Condolences can be left at lhdfuneralhome.com.