William Luther Gibson

William Luther Gibson “Bill” passed peacefully at his home in Tyngsboro, Mass, from Pancreatic Cancer at 70 years old. Born in Concord, October 6, 1954, to George Berl Gibson and Frances Vigliotti Gibson. He attended Concord Carlisle High School, class of 1972.

Bill was raised in West Concord, spending most of his life on Sunnyside Lane.

Following his father’s passing, the family home was sold, and he moved to Bingham, Maine, where his mother bought a Victorian home and opened Mrs. G’s Bed and Breakfast.

He was one of four siblings; his brother George “Gige” was 11 months older than Bill. They were known as the fraternal twins. George had dark curly hair with black olive eyes, all of the Italian traits. Bill was the opposite, fair-haired with light green eyes. Mom called him Sweet William. George took the lead at a very young age, a very busy boy. Bill was the quiet one. As an infant, he slept so soundly that he was checked to make sure he was breathing. He didn’t talk right away; George spoke for him.

Bill loved to skate. Warner’s pond was at the end of his Grandfather’s Italian farm, right to the edge of the pond. His Dad would plow off the ice for skating. It is where Bill learned to skate and later on played hockey with the neighborhood boys. There were spotlights put up by his Dad for night skating. He was on the varsity hockey team at CCHS from his freshman year to his senior year. He taught his son Michael how to skate and how to play hockey. He was the assistant hockey coach for Mike’s hockey team in Maine. Bill put on his skates one last time this past winter, his close friends joining him. He took a video of himself sharing memories of Warner’s Pond, scanning the area where the Gibson and Vigliotti homesteads were, Boy Scout Island, to the homes along Commonwealth Avenue, and his friends playing hockey. Most of the kids who lived around the pond spent the summer months fishing off the shores, taking rowboats out to explore (without life jackets), always mooring at Boy Scout Island, catching bullfrogs, and skipping stones. And the winters brought the skating, hockey games, and ice fishing.

The threads of music from his grandparents passed on to his sister Joanne, to him, and his brother George. Bill played saxophone, George played trombone, and Joanne played piano. George with his trombone, Bill with his saxophone and Joanne playing the piano played the popular songs of the 60’s. Not only was there a piano in their home there was also an organ. Bill and Joanne would play the song Sunny, by Bobby Hebb, not once but over and over again.

The first band they had was J. Alfred Proof Rock playing their trombone and sax along with two other members of the band one playing trumpet and another saxophone. Next came the Backwoods Boys, country and bluegrass music. George had the gift of perfect pitch and could pick up any instrument and play it. Bill could read music and also play by ear. George was the lead singer and front man, Bill lead guitarist and vocals, Jerry Wile, banjo and fiddle, Chris Hulswit Stand up Bass and Bass Electric guitar. Jerry and Chris are still with us today. The country music was encouraged by their Dad who was born and raised in Harland County Kentucky. He wanted to hear the country music from the hills of Appalachia.

Summer brought the Bluegrass Festival at Thomas Point Maine, a weekend long event. Bill Monroe, Ricky Scaggs and other Country and Bluegrass bands were there. The Backwoods Boys always took the show.

Bill’s daughter has memories of her Dad getting all “dolled” up to play his music. Anna and Nanny would go along. When her Dad had a break, he would take Anna out on the dance floor and twirl her around. There were memories of her Dad playing his music when she would spend weekends at the B&B.

Anna and Mike’s Christmas holidays were always special, never knowing what their Dad would buy them. He loved searching for gifts he thought they would like. There wasn’t a Santa’s list, he did it his way and he always ended up getting the coolest gifts for them to try. One Christmas he bought Anna a leather jacket thinking she would like. She hated that leather jacket but would wear it because it was a gift from her Dad. When they would go out together, he would always make her wear that “nice” leather jacket, Anna still secretly hating it every time she wore it for him.

Her Dad made “awesome” meals cooking a mean steak on the grill, it was perfect and “yummy”.

Years later he would visit Anna and her partner David in Maine. Bill working on his car and David by his side helping him with what he needed. David drives from Maine to Framingham daily for Poland Springs. His fondest memories of Bill are his many phone calls they had together on his long rides. They were buddies.

Bill spent time with Joanne and Tom at their homes in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and in Groton. Tom and Bill shared the love of woodworking; they would spend many hours in Tom’s shop “playing with wood”. Carpentry was his trade; he was a perfectionist at his jobs.

Michael shared the love of music with his Dad. Bill teaching him to play guitar playing and singing along with him, the threads of music continuing. They would spend many hours talking about life, his Dad sharing his wisdom. The last few months of Bill’s life Mike was at his side still sharing their love for each other right to the end. A gift Mike cherishes.

Bill had many supportive friends who were by his side throughout his decline in health. Many phone conversations and visits, taking him out to dinner and to visits with other friends, getting him to his appointments, and to the hospital. He cherished his friends and loved every one of them.

Bill is predeceased by his Mother and Father, whom he was devoted to. His sister, Judy, and his brother, George. He leaves behind his daughter Anna and her partner David, son Michael, sister Joanne and her husband Tom, and brother-in-law Bob Dunlap. Niece Laura, nephews Tommy, Mark and his wife Amy, and Rob. His Granddaughter, Cynthia, and great-nieces, Ari, Lila, Ava, and Cayla, along with his great-nephew, Max, and Bubba, his Maine Coon Cat.

Many thanks to all his friends for their support of Bill and his family. Special thanks to Darla, Sylvia, and Brian, his neighbors, who checked in on him, brought him meals, and took care of Bubba, spending time with Bill in his final days, as well as to the nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Brookline. Bill asked Tom to bring the acoustic guitar that Tom had made when he and Joanne visited the hospital before he passed away. It was the last time Bill played a guitar and sang. On his last day there, he played the guitar and sang a song for his favorite nurse.

Bill and his sister Joanne spent their last time together sharing memories and looking at family photos. They gave each other the gift of Peace and the love they shared for each other.

“The Song has ended, but the Melody lingers on”.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Bill for his graveside service on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 2:00 pm in the family lot at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord. 

Donations in his memory may be made to:
Concord Conservatory of Music
P.O. Box 1258
Concord, MA 01742
978-369-0010
www.concordconservatory.org

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742  978-369-3388  www.concordfuneral.com