Reverend Elwyn Gibbs

GIBBS, Reverend Elwyn Pastor, dedicated to community services. Rev. Elwyn Gibbs passed away Friday, January 18, 2013. Born February 8, 1936 in Loyalton, CA. He was 76. He married Mary Elizabeth Shutts in 1958 and was ordained in 1960 after graduating from Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Together they served two Christian settlement houses: Brooks House of Hammond, Indiana and the Association House of Chicago. Three daughters were born to them, Marjorie, Beth and Cheryl. In 1967, Elwyn became Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he developed a ministry to the community. After the death of his wife in 1970, he began work in an ecumenical organization in Camden, New Jersey developing programs for churches in the region to respond to social issues. In 1975, he married Vickie Wells and returned to northern California in 1976 to serve as Associate Director of United Christian Centers of Sacramento. During this time, he and his wife were among those who developed Paratransit, Inc., and in 1982 he became the Pastor of Prince of Peace Church in South Sacramento. While pastoring at the Prince of Peace, he helped create the Community Services program of Southgate Park and Recreations District, served on the community Advisory Board of the University of California Davis Medical Center, participated in the development of the South Sacramento Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Meadowview Area Coalition, and served many years with the South Sacramento Rotary. He led Prince of Peace Church in ministry to Franklin Villa, an underprivileged, crime ridden neighborhood near the church. Elwyn is survived by his wife, Vickie Wells, three daughters, Marjorie Mierzwak, Beth Rager and Cheryl Campos, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, along with his incredible sense of humor that he shared with everyone. Services will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Cathedral Church, 2620 Capitol Avenue in Sacramento, California. Those interested in making donations on his behalf may give to the River City Food Bank in Sacramento.