Obituary of Wayne Leroy Gibbons

Wayne L. “Doc” Gibbons, M.D. died peacefully at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the age of 70.

Doc is survived by Ahtoi Gibbons, his wife of 40 years, his brother Gary Gibbons, his sister Michelle Carr, four children: Wayne S. Gibbons, Ahmara Gibbons Ross, Kristen Gibbons Feden, Ahrin Gibbons, two sons-in-law: Nicholas Feden and Elvin Ross III, and four grandchildren: Nicholas Feden Jr., Ethan Feden, Elvin Ross IV, and Elah Ross.

Doc was preceded in death by his father, LeRoy Pete Gibbons and mother, Vivian Johnson Gibbons. Doc was born on December 10, 1948 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1966, before going on to Fairfield University in Connecticut, where he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Doc was a stand-out basketball player in both high school and college. Following graduation from Fairfield University, Doc attended Yale Medical School in Connecticut. In connection with fulfilling a family obligation, he returned to Philadelphia and earned his Medical Degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1979.

On May 12, 1979, during his final year of medical school, Doc married Ahtoi White. After buying their first house in Willingboro, New Jersey, the couple temporarily relocated to Staten Island, New York, where Doc served as a commissioned medical officer in the United States Public Health Service. After a few years in New York, Doc and Ahtoi returned to Willingboro to start their family. In New Jersey, Doc was the Medical Director for the Trenton State Prison. Doc, Ahtoi and their children moved briefly to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before settling in the Roslyn area of Abington, Pennsylvania in 1998, where Doc served as one of the region’s last “old school” community doctors at various small to midsize medical practices throughout North and West Philadelphia.

Doc was a deeply religious man who, as a medical missionary, was able to share his faith and the gifts of his profession with many people throughout the world. Some of his notable medical mission trips included providing care in Guatemala, Nigeria, and Ghana. Consistently serving the needs of the sick without regard to their ability to pay, Doc practiced medicine into 2019 and stopped only a few months before he passed when his own health halted his ability to do more.

Respectfully submitted,

Doc’s Family

A Memorial Service is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 4, 2019 at the Abington Presbyterian Church located at 1082 Old York Rd Abington, PA 19001. Pastor Kirby Lawrence will officiate and a reception at the church will follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Doc’s life.