Please note change of visiting hours for Ralph W. Gibbs to Friday, March 16, 2018, 4 to 7 p.m. followed by services at 7 p.m.

Ralph W. Gibbs, 95, a former longtime Newbury resident and Essex County Newspaper executive, passed away Friday morning, March 2, at Avita of Newburyport, with his daughter by his side.

Ralph was a proudly decorated U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and the loving husband of the late Victoria M. (Garfi) Gibbs, the love of his life who passed Feb. 12, 2017, and with whom he would have celebrated 47 years of marriage on March 24.

He was born on Shepherd Street in Gloucester on the Fourth of July in 1922, the son of William H. and Beatrice W. (Dunn) Gibbs of Gloucester, and was graduated from Gloucester High School in 1940.

In addition to his beloved daughter, Jane M. Gibbs, and her partner Bill Heckenkamp, of Newburyport; he leaves his loving sister, Maureen (Gibbs) Noble, and her husband Ralph, of Gloucester; along with his adoring nieces and nephews, Christine (Noble) Favazza and husband Joseph, Catherine (Noble) Fulford and husband Mark, Elizabeth (Noble) Jewell and husband Mike, William Cahill, Eileen (Cahill) O'Connor and husband Ed, and Stephen Cahill and wife Jane (Buckley), all of Gloucester. Ralph also leaves his lifelong friend Joe Orange of Gloucester; and several grand-nieces and nephews, great-grand-nieces and nephews, and many step-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Bernice "Bunny" (Gibbs) Cahill of Gloucester, who passed October 26, 2017.

Visiting hours are Friday, March 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Elliott, Woodworth, and Rogers Funeral Home, 35 Green St., Newburyport followed by services at 7 p.m. A graveside service with military honors will take place in spring at St. Mary's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, or to the charity of one's choice.