Services are set for Wednesday, June 3, in Brownsburg, Indiana, for QHRAI Hall of Fame member Dean Gibbs.

© Courtesy Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home

PITTSBORO, IN–JUNE 29, 2024–Dean Gibbs, 72, a QHRAI Hall of Fame member from Pittsboro, Indiana, passed away on June 27, 2024. Funeral services are set for Wednesday, July 3.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) in St. Malachy Catholic Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. Following Mass, Dean will be laid to rest in St. Malachy North Cemetery in Brownsburg, Indiana. 

Thomas Dean Gibbs was born the eldest son of five boys to Basil and Marjorie Gibbs on January 3, 1952.

He showed his strong work ethic at a young age by starting farming for the family when his dad was away working. A lifelong resident of the Pittsboro/Lizton area, Dean attended North Salem High School, where he played basketball and baseball and graduated in 1970.

Soon after school, he started working as a mason. Eventually, Dean was blessed with his son, Aaron.

Dean had a deep passion for racing and horses. He was a very active member of the USAC racing world. Dean and Aaron drove across America, traveling from track to track. The memories and friends that he made and the accomplishments that he achieved were some of the greatest times of his life.

After his mechanic days, his love for racing continued with horses.

Dean married his wife Teresa, who shares his love for horses, in August 2008. They own Brokenheart Stables, where they breed and race Quarter Horses.

Dean was inducted into the QHRAI Hall of Fame as an owner in 2015 and served on the OQHRAI Board of Directors.

Dean and Teresa were blessed with eight grandchildren. He absolutely thrived in his role of Papaw, teaching the grandchildren important life lessons, strong morals and the way of the world with several good laughs along the way.

As a Catholic, he was strong in his faith and attended services at St. Malachy Church in Brownsburg. To know Dean meant you had a friend for life; he didn’t know a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother (Basil and Marjorie Gibbs), as well as two of his four brothers (Russell and Stanley Gibbs). He leaves behind his wife, Teresa Gibbs; his son, Aaron (Lorinda) Gibbs; step-daughter, Danielle Wolf; step-son, Brian (Megan) O’Donnell; and grandchildren, Lane and Ava Gibbs; Macy and Zane Wolf; Colin, Shane, Coryn, and Nolan O’Donnell.

Arrangements are entrusted to Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services.  All are encouraged to keep Dean's family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.