Edna Arlene (Sulser) Gibson was born on June 26, 1920, on a farm near Coin, Iowa. She died at Windsor Manor in Shenandoah, Iowa on July 17, 2017. She was the youngest of three daughters born to John and Edna Ella (Annan) Sulser. Her life growing up on the farm, where she enjoyed working outside with her father and playing with her dog, Jigs, was enriched by friendships with cousins who lived on neighboring farms. Arlene graduated from Coin Consolidated School in 1938. Following graduation, she was employed at Security Trust and Savings Bank in Shenandoah, Iowa.

Arlene was married to Philip Quentin Gibson on January 20, 1945, at her parent's home near Coin, Iowa. Their first date took place during high school after he invited her to a movie during typing class. Quentin was serving in the United States Navy at the time of their marriage, and when World War II ended, they returned to the family farm north of Coin where they lived together over 60 years. Arlene moved to Holmes Apartment in Shenandoah in 2008, and then to Windsor Manor in 2014. Arlene lived out her chosen role as a 'homemaker' in the truest sense of the word, creating a loving home environment for her family and welcoming to each of her homes generations of extended family and friends. She was a member of the Coin United Presbyterian Church and later the First Presbyterian Church of Shenandoah, serving actively in the Women's Association of both churches. She participated in 4-H activities as a youth and as an adult leader. Arlene and Quentin enjoyed traveling to sightsee and visit family and friends. Interests during her years on the farm included reupholstering furniture (including reclining chairs), tearing down two houses (removing nails and stacking the used lumber), and picking gooseberries (climbing over gates and under fences in search of a good patch). Throughout her life, Arlene completed many handwork projects, along with sewing and patching clothes. As her life slowed down, she enjoyed reading, crossword and Sudoku puzzles, computer games, e-mailing family and friends, and playing cards.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her son-in-law Bill Gilmore, sister Anna Brownlee and husband Dale, sister Ina Mae Wolfe and husband Lawrence, brother-in-law Jerome Gibson and wife, Verna, sister-in-law Esther Murphy and husband Richard, sister-in-law Marjorie Lavely and husband Paul, brother-in-law Everett Gibson and wife Ruth, and sister-in-law Rachel Murphy.

She is survived by her son Philip Gibson (Mary Anne) of Coin, IA and granddaughter Sarah (Jay) Rhoten and great granddaughters Skye, Sienna, and Sibley of Pella, IA; her daughter Rita Gilmore of Clarinda, IA and grandson Van (Molly) Gilmore and great granddaughters Zoey, Beau, and Kemper of Clarinda, IA; her son Mark Gibson (Rosa O'Leary) of Glenwood Springs, CO, and Rosa's son David (Lindsey) O'Leary and children Jude and Cia of San Diego CA, and daughter Kate O'Leary and children Soroush, Makayla, Evelyn, David, and Emily of Glenwood Springs, CO; many very special nieces and nephews and their children and families (who fondly called her "Auntie R"), and a host of friends, young and old.

Celebration of life memorial service will be held 11:30 am, Monday, July 24, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah.

Memorial visitation with family will be held from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm, Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.

Burial of cremains will held 10:30 am, Monday, July 24, 2017 at the Elmwood Cemetery in Coin.

Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Shenandoah.