Obituary of Leo Anthony Hibson

Retired Captain Leo A. Hibson, JR. USN, 87, passed peacefully on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, in Tampa, FL in his daughter’s home.  Leo was born in New Haven, CT on April 24, 1930. He distinguished himself in High School, earning numerous academic and athletic awards for excellence and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.

Leo A. Hibson, JR. was awarded an NROTC scholarship to the University of Washington. Upon graduation in 1951, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy, embarking on a 30 year career of proud service to his country. He served as training officer from 1951 to 1953. From 1953 to 1956 significant events included deployments to the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, the Mid-East, and the Scandinavian  area. During this tour, he was promoted to lieutenant and chosen as Honor Guard Officer for Admiral Arliegh Burke. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Georgia Institute of Technology as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science, where he completed a Master’s Degree in Industrial Management.

From 1958 to 1960 he was commanding officer, the youngest in the Atlantic Fleet, of the USS Nespelen.

With his promotion to Lieutenant Commander he was selected to attend the Naval War College.  From 1963 to 1965, he was the Weapons Officer on the USS Boston, a guided missile cruiser, and promoted to Commander.

He was assigned to the Sperry Corporation from 1966 to 1970 as part of a team that supervised the Polaris Missile System. With promotion to Captain, he became the Commanding Officer on the USS Richard L. Page, which under his command was the only ship in the Atlantic Fleet to earn 5 E’s, the designations denoting excellence in all the ship’s departments. Subsequent duty stations include selection for the National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His last Command was as the Commanding Officer, Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown, VA. After retiring from active duty in 1979, he moved to Fairfax, VA and worked for Sperry Corporation and Lockheed Martin as a Systems Engineer until his retirement.

During his long and distinguished career, Captain Hibson was awarded several medals, most notably twice receiving the Meritorious Service Award.

Captain Hibson spent most of his retirement years in Fairfax and Loudoun where he enjoyed the company of family, friends and golfing. He moved to Florida in 2016 where he was an honored member of the Veteran’s Club of Jamaica Bay Incorporated.

He was predeceased by his wife Jacqueline (Jackie) of 60 years in 2013. He is survived by his children, Janelle Hibson, Durinda Davis, (George), Leo A. Hibson, III (Trish), Charlene Hibson and 6 grandchildren; and a surviving sister, Angela Wade of Punta Gorda, FL., and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery chapel followed by burial with full military honors on July 19, 2018 at 12:45. Leo will always be remembered by his family, friends, fellow Naval Officers and crews as an outstanding Naval Officer, a consummate gentleman and a man of the highest integrity. Our beloved Father will always be cherished and greatly missed. Thank you, Dad, for being such a wonderful man. We love you and miss you. Gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent in his memory to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank at www.BRAFB.org or the Marine Toys For Tots at www.toysfortots.org.