Clifford Walker Gibbs
December 5, 1947 – April 27, 2025
Clifford “Cliff” Walker Gibbs, 77, of Independence Township, NJ, went home to be with the Lord on April 27, 2025. Born in Morristown, New Jersey, Cliff grew up on the family farm in Allamuchy, NJ, with his parents (James and Marion) and three brothers, Jim, Bob, and Frank.
A graduate of Hackettstown High School, Cliff met the love of his life, Ruth (Finkle) Gibbs, during his school years. They married in 1968, beginning their lifelong journey together.
Cliff served his country with distinction as a “Green Beret” with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) during the Vietnam War. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, and deployed to Tra Bong, Vietnam.
While Cliff was at Fort Bragg, he and Ruth welcomed their first daughter, Kellie (Pennington), who was born in 1969, shortly before his deployment to Vietnam.
Upon returning home, Cliff’s commitment to service continued in his community. He helped establish the Allamuchy/Green Rescue Squad, served as a member of the Independence Township Volunteer Fire Department for 49 years (five of them as chief), and worked as a dispatcher for the Morris County Sheriff’s Department.
Cliff and Ruth’s family expanded with three more daughters: Heather (Parker), Sarah (Bears-Hubert), and Jolene (Dempski); ten grandchildren: Brooke, Jeffrey, and Olivia Pennington; Amelia, Cedric, Millie, Keira, and Linnea Parker; and Phoebe and Theo Dempski; along with one great-grandchild, Jane Park. To his grandchildren, he was affectionately known as “Pop-Pop.”
Cliff was a member of the Hackettstown American Legion and VFW. He enjoyed rooting for the New York Giants, researching American History, and listening to Jimmy Buffett’s music.
A viewing will be held Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cochran Funeral Home in Hackettstown, NJ. Funeral services will follow on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the same location, with burial at Tranquility Cemetery.
Following the burial, family and friends were invited to a luncheon at the Independence Township Firehouse in Great Meadows.
Cliff was a valued member of Chapter XIX.
