MECHANICSVILLE, Va. (WWBT) - William Gibson, a longtime volunteer and Santa with the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, died Monday morning after battling cancer.

Gibson had worked for decades bringing Christmas cheer to families through the Angel Tree program. Last month, he shared his cancer diagnosis but said he wasn’t letting it stop him from helping one last Christmas:

His family said they were able to take Gibson to Christmas Town recently for one final taste of his beloved holiday.

“My dad was amazing and my heart is aching, huge loss for me as well as my mom and brother, but I’m glad he no longer has pain,” his daughter Amanda said.

Gibson’s final wish was to encourage people to donate to Angel Tree and share its message.

He filmed many commercials that are currently airin

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