Billie Miller Gibson

Billie Miller Gibson, aged 81, of Houston, TX, died on August 4, 2022. She was
preceded in death by her parents, Nola Mae Lowrimore Miller and Howard Lee
Miller.
Billie was born in Harlingen, TX on December 11, 1940. She lived in Texas,
Indiana and Washington State before her family moved to Aiken, SC in the early
1950s. She graduated from Aiken High School and received a Business Degree
from the University of South Carolina. She worked at the Atomic Energy
Commission at the Savannah River Project and then moved to Florida and began
working for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center. Billie then moved to the
Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. While at NASA, she worked on the
Apollo moon shots, as well as Shuttle missions. She retired in 1994.
Billie loved to travel and she visited over 70 countries and every continent with a
group of friends that she met on a trip to Antarctica. They traveled the world over
many years and were affectionately known as the “polar chicks”. She also
enjoyed giving back to her community and volunteered with Meals on wheels for
28 years..
Mrs. Gibson is survived by her husband, Thomas F. Gibson, Jr., of Houston, TX,
her sister, Janice Miller Lovell and her nephew, Edward Keith Lovell, of Marietta,
GA.
In lieu of cards and flowers, Billie expressed the wish that friends and family
would perform an act of kindness in her memory.
Crowder Funeral Home in League City, TX is in charge of the arrangements. A
private graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
near Aiken, SC.

14 comments

  1. Wonderful woman. I volunteer at Longhorn Garden on JSC where I worked 42 years.
    I didn’t realize her and my conection to SC. Hadn’t come up. I need to find a group of friends to travel with and let my husband stay home since he hates to travel.
    I know everyone that knew her will miss her greatly.

    Pat Daniel
  2. Sincere sympathy to Tom, and her sister Janice. My thoughts, love and prayers are with you all. Billie was my best high school friend.

    Please advise what date the graveside service will be in Aiken S. C. unless it is private.

    Helen Freiday
  3. We will miss you, Billie, so much in the neighborhood. You were always such a bright spark at any of our gatherings. Your sister, Jan, was such a treasure of support for you during your illness. We all appreciated her dedication.
    I am thrilled to know that you are safely in Jesus’s arms. Amen.

    Nancy Saint
  4. Such sad news. We shared so many happy years and fun times as teenagers and beyond. Will treasure those sweet memories. Rest In Peace my friend.

    Johnnie Callam
  5. I’m so sorry to hear Billie has left us Tom. She was the most enthusiastic Polar Chick of all and our wee group won’t be the same again. Billie was great fun to be around and we will miss her dearly. We have wonderful memories of her. Sincere sympathy to all the family. Kiwi Polar Chick Lynda

    Lynda Hunt
  6. Dearest Billie. It was an honour to meet you in Antarctica and be part of the Polar Chick group that we have kept going for 20 years around the world. You were always so jolly and enthusiastic in all our ventures. You will be sorely missed. All my love and condolences to Tom at this difficult time. Rest in peace. PC Paula

    Paula Lawford
  7. Dear Billie, You were the consummate traveling companion and wonderful friend. We had such adventures in the 80’s and 90’s – be it whitewater rafting in Peru, jet boating in New Zealand, or hiking in New England. Thank you for enriching my life in so many ways. Fair winds and following seas, my friend. My sincere condolences to your family.

    Nancy Robertson Upshaw
  8. Ricky and I are just grief stricken. We are so glad we were able to visit with you and Janice a couple of years ago. We caught up with several family stories and had a lovely dinner together. Billie was so much fun and we still have the great photo of when you were children and currently. I felt as if I was Janice and Billie’s cousin, as well, by the time the afternoon came to a close. At this most difficult time, Ricky and I send our prayers and condolences to Tom and family.
    Carol Parker

    Leonard James Parker
  9. Carolyn and I are so sorry to hear of the passing of my dear cousin Billie. We send our sincere sympathy to Tom and Janice. Billie was such a sweet lady and I have many fond memories of her at our family gatherings as we were growing up. Her smile and love of life was contagious and will forever be her legacy.

    Clyde Lowrimore
  10. Billie served as my loyal life-line about goings-on in the NASA/Apollo world. I’d worked there with her and others (many of whom have passed) during the mid-1960s and I’d moved several times before ending up at NASA/Ames here in California. Billie fed me pictures of Apollo reunions – as well as great emails with all manner of fun and laughter. My last email from Billie was on July 21 – I had NO idea she was battling that unwelcome disease. Condolences to Tom and all the family and the many friends whose lives she had enriched. She won’t be forgotten.

    Vera Buescher
  11. Carolyn and I are so sorry to hear of the passing of my dear cousin Billie. We send our sincere sympathy to Tom and Janice. Billie was such a sweet lady and I have many fond memories of her at our family gatherings as we were growing up. Her smile and love of life was contagious and will forever be her legacy.

    Clyde Lowrimore
  12. What a blessing she has been in my life! Delightful friend and neighbor. Such a ready smile and always up for any adventure. I’ll sure miss you,sweet Billie

    Ann B Woods
  13. Good morning could you please let me know when and if there is a funeral or graveside service. Billie’s classmates from Aiken SC are calling me gif further information. Sorry to bother Tom and Janice. My sincere sympathy and love is with them at this time

    Helen Freiday
  14. Billie will be missed and remembered by many….always the sparkle of any gathering. Jim and I send our sincere sympathy to Tom, Jan, and Billie’s wide circle of friends.

    Rebecca Derbonne

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