ADVERTISING

Elizabeth Jane Gibbons

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | November 07, 2023

Elizabeth Jane (Lesher) Alder Gibbons, 92, of White Oak, passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023. Also known as BeeDoll, Betty, Betty Boop, Gram and GiGi. She was born January 27, 1931, and was the daughter of the late Charles and Ruth Lesher. She was the loving wife of the late Charles Thomas Gibbons. She worked in the old Nabisco factory on Penn Avenue in East Liberty, now home to Google, and spent many years as a waitress at Scotty’s Diner a little further up the road in Wilkinsburg. She also worked for the Borough of Wilkinsburg as a meter maid and as a school crossing guard. In her later years, she was a caregiver for a number of older folks needing in-home assistance, providing care, companionship, meals, laundry, light housekeeping, and travel to medical appointments and the like. She was funny, feisty, playful, and loved a good game of pinochle and 500 Bid through several card clubs throughout her adult life and with family members. She was a member of Sampson Mills Presbyterian Church in White Oak for decades, volunteering there when she was physically able. What has always stood out as her most endearing gifts through the years was both her compassion and care for others and her remarkable capacity for forgiveness. She lovingly opened her home to anyone in need. She was a terrific baker and gardener, and was still shoveling and playing in the dirt well into her 80's. She was the last surviving member of her generation among the Lesher and Alder families. She had 5 living generations in the same family for the 4th consecutive time over the past 76 years.

She is survived by her children, Susan (Thomas) McArthur of Tucson, AZ, Charles Gibbons, Jr. of Pittsburgh and Rona Watts of Pittsburgh, 7 adoring grandchildren Ronnie (Stephanie), Debbie, Brandy (Jon), Kristin (Jake), Brianna (Christian), Alexandra (Nick) and Chelsea (Adam), 12 great grandchildren Ron, Alex, Darby (Billy), Delaney, Danny, Ryland, Cassidy, Cameron, Brielle, Brody, Hudson and Scarlett, 1 great-great grandchild, Everett, extended family members Heather, Maddie and Nola, and a host of nieces and nephews across Pennsylvania, Virginia and Texas. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Donald Alder, her second husband Charles Thomas Gibbons, her sister, Joan Lesher Duffy, her brothers Bill and Bobby Lesher, and her son, Richard Donald Alder, Jr. There is no visitation. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by the Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1638 Lincoln Way, White Oak (412) 672-6322 Troy J. Gilbert, Director Condolences may be made at Gilbertfuneralhomeandcrematory.com

Originally published November 07, 2023.

Other deaths:
"Michael W. Kelly" || "Shirley I. McKnight"