William Ariste Gribble, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully and was promoted to Glory to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 15, 2012.
Bill was born on November 17, 1925 in Rockford, Illinois to Marlowe Clifford and Mabel Aline Bourquin Gribble.
Bill graduated from Wauwatosa High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1943. He joined the Air Force in 1944. He went through Navigation School in San Marcos, Texas and was in the last class to graduate in 1945 after World War II ended.
After graduating and being released from the Air Force, he married Mary Frances Morris in Austin, Texas on June 15, 1946. They made their home in Austin, Texas where Bill spent 4 years at St. Edwards University obtaining a BS degree in Accounting. After graduating, he got a job in Ft. Worth, Texas working with the American Steel and Wire Company as an accountant, during which time he served in the Air Force Reserve. He was re-called into the service when the Korean War began and flew 52 night missions in that war. His last assignment brought him and his family to Colorado Springs in 1967 where he served as a Missile Test Engineer until his retirement in 1972. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Mary, decided to remain in Colorado Springs until all their three children had graduated from Wasson High School before returning to their home in Austin, Texas. However, as it turned out, once all the children had graduated, they decided to make Colorado Springs their home.
After retirement, Bill was very active in serving his community. He served on the Truck Route Committee as well as the first Council of Neighborhood Organization Committee (CONO). He was a very active member in both organizations. When he decided to return to UCCS to get his MS degree in Public Administration, he saw the need to create a more direct route to the UCCS campus and as a member of the Truck Route and CONO Organization, he was instrumental in getting the Austin Bluffs Parkway proposal on the ballot and eventually located in front of UCCS.
In 1983, Bill and Mary joined Village Seven Presbyterian Church, where he actively (and in-actively) served as an Elder for many years. While serving as an Elder at Village Seven Presbyterian Church, he chaired two building committees; the first to build the badly needed Christian Academy for the Junior and Senior high students (now known as the Evangelical Christian Academy ECA) and the second to build the current Sanctuary which is now expanding for a new generation.
Bill, like his mother, had a green thumb and enjoyed caring for a beautiful garden. He was an avid sports fan and was a big follower of the AFA Falcon football team, the Broncos, the Rockies, and even his once home teams, the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Brewers. He was also an avid reader of mystery novels.
Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Julianne, and his brother, Roger. He is survived by a loving family which includes his wife of 66 years, Mary (Frankie); their children: Pat Gervell (Bill); Bill Gribble, Jr. (Holly); and Dave Gribble (Beth); grandchildren: David (Jade) Gribble, Zachary Gribble, Susanne Roberson (Jake), Jonathan Gribble, and Christina Gribble; and great-grandchildren: Jeremiah, Tanner, and Katie.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Village Seven Presbyterian Church, 4056 Nonchalant Circle South with a reception to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, it would be Bill’s wish that all memorial donations be sent to the Reformed Discipleship Ministry, P.O. Box 7168, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80933.