Zelma Lewis Gibson

Zelma Lewis Gibson, 86, a familiar face to the community from her many years of employment at Rock Cave IGA and the Rock Cave Post Office, passed away early in the morning on Wednesday, June 23, 2026.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jay Lewis and Ollie Lewis Bender. Her bonus father, James Bender, also predeceased her. The youngest of five, she was the last of her siblings. Berdine Potts, Reynold Lewis, Denzil Lewis, and Willard Lewis all passed away before her. She was preceded in death by three granddaughters: Susanna, Corinne, and Emme Gibson.

Surviving her are son, Randy Gibson and wife, Lore Blinn Gibson, of Lafayette, Indiana; her daughter, Vanessa Hollinger and husband, Dean, of Fort Bridger, Wyoming; and son, RJ Gibson of Rock Cave. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Maia Gibson and James Gibson of Lafayette, Indiana; Whitney Hollinger of Fort Bridger, Wyoming; Amanda Miller and husband, Brett, of Imperial, California; and Ryan Hollinger of Fort Bridger. She leaves behind several treasured nieces and nephews. She is survived by a few especially cherished friends.

Always an avid reader, she became a voracious one upon her retirement at age 82 from the Rock Cave IGA. Primarily a fan of Westerns and mysteries, she read more than 200 books in one year on her Kindle. Her particular favorites were Louis L’Amour’s novels and M.C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth series. She was anxiously awaiting the next installment of the “Hamish books.”

A Methodist by faith, Zelma exemplified one of the key ideas that John Wesley preached: “the love of the neighbor.” She always met people where they were, treating them with respect, honesty, and kindness.

Family and friends will gather at Clutter Funeral and Cremation, located at 21 Elnora Circle in Buckhannon, from 2–3 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The Celebration of Life Service will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the Clutter Funeral Home Chapel. Inurnment at Rock Cave Cemetery will immediately follow.

While flowers are more than welcome at the memorial (Zelma did love flowers), the family would also suggest that donations in her name could be made to the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute at WVU Medicine. Zelma was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2014. She was fortunate to suffer relatively minimal effects of the disease; in part, she thought, from the quality of care and attention she received from her neurologists.

We, at Clutter Funeral and Cremation, are honored and privileged to serve the family of Zelma Lewis Gibson. Online condolences may be expressed at www.ClutterFuneralHome.com.