Ethel Louise Gibson, 90, of Horsecreek Road, Seneca, died Tuesday afternoon, August 4, 2015 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

She was born August 18, 1924 in Oil City to the late Ernest C. and Ethel (Drake) Gahring.

She was a 1941 graduate of Oil City High School.

On May 3, 1946 she married Fred L. Gibson, and he preceded her in death on February 23, 1994.

Mrs. Gibson, along with her sister, Jane, volunteered with the Brownies and Girl Scouts at the Sage Run school. She was also active with the school P.T.A. and served as president of the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, where she scheduled many dinners and wedding receptions. She and her husband operated the fire department’s Bingo games for many years.

Ethel enjoyed accompanying her husband to a variety of Masonic events and held offices in the Acacia Grotto auxiliary. She participated with the A.M. Walkers Club at the Cranberry Mall. During the holiday season, she could be found volunteering and wrapping gifts for the Community Services program, “Spirit of Giving” at the mall.

Surviving are three children: Ernest Gibson of Seneca, Linda Bernat of Davenport, Iowa, and Dennis L. Gibson and his wife Rose of Erie; her former daughter-in-law, Carolyn Dinberg of Oil City; and her former son-in-law, Charles Bernat of Camas, Washington. Nine grandchildren survive: Carrie Peterson and her husband Eric, Mary Ruth Mahle, Evan Gibson and his wife DeAnne, Elizabeth Jordan and her fiancé Dan Myers, John Gibson and his wife Jodi, Michelle Bates and husband Ryan, Regina Hoaglin and her husband Shane, Dennis M. Gibson and his wife Jennifer, and Sheila Black and husband Donald; twenty great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Mrs. Gibson was the last surviving member of her immediate family. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Violet Smith and her husband Lawrence, Ernestine Freda Hewston and husband Charles, Gladys Gloss and husband Harry, and Jane Gahring; and her brothers, Merle Gahring, and Norman “Mickey” Gahring.

Friends will be received Thursday, Aug. 6th from 4-7 p.m. in the Hile-Best Funeral Home, Inc. 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township, where the funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. Mark Rusnak, hospice chaplain with AseraCare, will officiate. Private interment will be in Brandon Cemetery in Cranberry.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Seneca Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 272, Seneca, PA 16346; or to AseraCare Hospice, 1600 Peninsula Drive, Suite 14, Erie, PA 16505.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online by visiting www.hilebest.com.