* Thomas M. Gibson; Chaplain Founded Churches in Southland

Capt. Thomas M. Gibson, 72, a Navy chaplain who was the founding pastor of two major Southern California churches. Born in Bonners Ferry, Ida., he was educated in Oregon schools and the San Francisco Theological Presbyterian Seminary. He served as chaplain during World War II and the Korean War. Settling in Southern California, Gibson founded St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach and served as minister from 1947 to 1951. He later organized St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Rolling Hills Estates and served as pastor there from 1955 to 1967. From 1970 until his retirement in 1982, he served as a Los Angeles County probation officer. On April 5 in Los Angeles of cancer.