- Date Of Birth: November 22, 1938
- Date Of Death: August 30, 2022
- State: Pennsylvania
Barbara E. (Gibbs) Drust, of Bethlehem Township, passed into the loving arms of The Lord on August 30, 2022, at the young age of 83. She was the loving wife of Stanley Drust, Jr., with whom she shared over 50 years of marriage. They were married at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, in Allentown, PA on May 13, 1972. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Major Harold Arthur Gibbs, Jr. and Pauline (Benyo) Gibbs. Barbara graduated from Mayfield High School in Mayfield Kentucky in 1956. She also lived in Texas and California then settled in the Lehigh Valley when she was in her early thirties. She enjoyed dancing, art, kids, gardening, bird watching, and taking care of her pets and yet found time to take an interest in the lives of others. She was very proud of her children and her service in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman serving in the service of her country at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Her rank was an HM3 & she received the American Spirit of Honor Bronze Medal in 1957. We will always remember Barbara as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She influenced many people’s lives with her insightful advice and sense of humor. Her smile and personality always lit up the room, earning her the nickname “bubbles” given to her by her father. Barbara cared deeply about animal health and welfare. One of her favorite memories was seeing whales at sunset in Hawaii that swam very close to the shoreline and then surfaced just to take a look at her. This is a memory that she would never forget and was often mentioned throughout her life. Close family will lay her to rest at Bethlehem Memorial Park. Barbara has enjoyed a lifetime of memories with her husband, six children, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, extended relatives, and friends.
Survivors: In addition to her husband Stanley, she will be lovingly remembered by her five sons and one daughter (Three daughters-in-law and two sons-in-law): Scott Lucas, John Lucas (Lisa) Barto, Pa., Nick Lucas (Clinton Lobb) Upper Saucon, Pa., Steven Lucas (Christina) Monterey, CA., Michael Drust (Cyndi) Bracey, VA., and Kelly Lee Baer (Thomas) Whitehall, Pa. Her grandchildren include Josh Lucas, Ethan Lucas, Mason Lucas, Caiden Baer of PA, Hayley Baldwin and Joseph Baldwin of Virginia; great-grandchildren include Leif Lucas of PA., and Wyatt Baldwin, Zoey Calhoun, Eli Baldwin of VA; her sister Judith Mayne of Atlanta, GA and brother Kenneth Dilbeck, Jr. (Diane) of Marion, IL. She is also survived by her feline companion Buddy!
Entombment with military honors will follow at Bethlehem Memorial Park Cemetery. A memory tribute may be place at www.cantelmifuneralhome.com.
