Bernard E. Tibbetts

Tibbetts, Bernard E. (Bernie), 64, retired Army Chief Warrant Officer (WO4), passed away Monday, November 15, 2010. Visitation Thursday 1-8. Family will be available to greet friends 6-8. Funeral service 10 a.m. Friday, both at Smith Family Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby. He was a Vietnam Veteran who served in the military for 35 years. He loved his country and his family: inspiring everyone who was a part of it. The price of freedom is visible in his passing and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. God bless America and our beloved Bernie. He was our hero that made the ultimate sacrifice. He was preceded in death by his father Merlin. He is survived by wife Anne (Vail) Tibbetts; mother Ingeborg (Huber) Tibbetts; daughters Karen Tibbetts and Charlene Rowland; sons David Tibbetts and Herbie Pickell; grandson Jordan Tibbetts; granddaughter Kindra Degenhardt; brothers Ronald and Herbert Tibbetts; sisters Nola Spillum and Cheryl Baber; mother-in-law, Selena Richards; brothers-in-law Raymond Vail, Guy Spillum, and Dirk Baber; and sister-in-law Nancy (Heithaus) Vail. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Rd. Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910.