Lourenda "Rita" Slone Gibson, 83, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Rita was born in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. She resided in Newport News, Virginia for close to 70 years.

Rita was an employee of the Newport News Public Schools for 30 years as a school bus driver. She was known as "the lady with the whistle". For many years during the summer, she worked at Busch Gardens Fest House baking all those delicious desserts. She was also the Nursery caregiver at once known Greenwood Pentecostal Holiness Church and later at New Hope Pentecostal Holiness Church where she was a charter member.

Rita is survived by her three children, Ginger Buskee and her husband, Pat, Linwood "Tommy" Gibson, Jr. and Joyce Allen all of Newport News; her brother, Effort Slone and his wife, Joy; seven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Linwood Thomas Gibson, Sr.; her parents Virginia Ferguson and Ted Slone; her grandparents Mandy and Roscoe Slone (Mommy and Daddy); her brothers Lloyd, Wheeler and Glen; her sisters Lula Mae, Ival, Violet, Lillie, Louise, Jane and Kathy; and her granddaughter Leigh preceded Rita in death.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday, July 21, 2024 at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, July 22, 2024 at New Hope Pentecostal Holiness Church with Reverend Larry Jones and Pastor Kenny Matthews officiating. Burial will follow at Peninsula Memorial Park.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the Wythe Nursing Staff at Northampton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and the health care providers from Virginia Home Health Services – Home Health Care and Virginia Home Health Care of Virginia Hospice Care. Also, thanks to Teri Wiggins who adopted Rita as her "Granny", sat with, and cared for her.

With Rita's love of children in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to New Hope Pentecostal Holiness Church, Reference: Rita Gibson, 80 Groome Road, Newport News, VA 23601.  The memorial donations will support the Children's Ministry.

Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.