William A. Fitz Gibbons, 87, died May 5, 2013, at Indian River Medical Center, Vero Beach.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Vero Beach 17 years ago from Great River, N.Y.
He served in the Navy as a medical corpsman during World War II.
After the war, he went to St. Johns University and St. Johns University Law School, both in New York.
He then worked for the law firm of Blumberg & Cromarty in New York, where he became a partner in Blumberg, Cromarty & Fitz Gibbons.
In retirement, he served as a volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, N.Y., Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, N.C., and Indian River Cancer Center in Vero Beach.
He was commander of the Amityville American Legion.
He ran the ward party for veterans in Huntington, N.Y.
He was president of the Amity Harbor Civic Association, president of the Copiague Lions Club and school attorney for the Lindenhurst school district.
He was inducted as a member into the United States Supreme Court in October 1981.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Marilyn Fitz Gibbons, of Vero Beach; son, Scott Fitz Gibbons, of Wheaton, Ill.; daughter, Jeanne Herrmann, of Royal Oak, Mich.; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Lillian Fitz Gibbons and Lucille Mattox.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. May 10 at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. May 11 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, followed by military honors.
Arrangements are by Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach.
A guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
