March 22, 2012
Richard Dallas Gifford
Press-Republican
PLATTSBURGH — Richard Dallas Gifford, 87, of Concord Avenue, was called home by his Savior Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at his home with his wife at his side. He was born in Laurel, Neb., Oct., 13, 1924, the son of Dallas and Blanche (Baker) Gifford.
A 1942 graduate of Wayne High School in Wayne, Neb., Richard was a proud member of the 1942 Nebraska State Basketball Champions. Answering his country's call to duty in WWII, Richard joined the U.S. Marine Corps and entered active duty in March of 1944, serving in the Asian-Pacific Theatre as a crew member of the USS Baltimore, Task Force 51, under the command of Admiral "Hurricane" Halsey. During his term of service, Cpl. Gifford earned five battle stars, four in the Asian-Pacific Theatre and one in the Phillippine Campaign. Honorably discharged in November of 1945, Richard returned to Nebraska and met Ida Iwilda Macklin in 1946. The two were married in August of 1947 at the United Methodist Church in Pender, Neb.
Richard earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master degrees at the University of Nebraska in 1952 and 1957, respectively. He worked for several years in the agricultural sciences in Nebraska, both as an agricultural extension agent and as a vocational agricultural teacher in public high schools. He was the recipient of Ford Foundation and National Science Foundation Post-Graduate fellowships in the late 1950s, attending both Cornell and Colgate Universities. Beginning in 1959, Richard began teaching earth science in the city school district of Rome, N.Y. From 1964 to 1968, he served with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. His mission was to establish and direct the office of Continuing Education at the University of Liberia. Following the completion of his four-year contract, Richard pursued post-graduate work in continuing education at Michigan State University. In 1971, he accepted a position in the Dept. Continuing Education at Plattsburgh State University, retiring in 1983.
Richard and his wife Ida were founding members of the Grace Fellowship Church of Plattsburgh in 1979, where he served with distinction as a Sunday school teacher and an elder for many years. He and his wife were also active in a musical ministry to the nursing homes of Plattsburgh. His deep love for his Savior, and people, was evidenced by all who knew him, both during his career at Plattsburgh State and in his retirement. Richard attended the Nazarene Church in Plattsburgh. He was also active in volunteer organizations in the Plattsburgh area, including the Office for the Aging, North Country Food Service, the N.Y. State Heart and Lung Associations and many others.
Survivors include his wife Ida; two sons, R. Scott Gifford and his wife Renee of Plattsburgh, and Ferris Gifford and his wife Deborah of Elizabethtown; five grandchildren, Alexander, Timothy, Aaron, Anelise and Candace; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by an infant daughter, who died at birth, their daughter Peggy and two siblings.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court St., Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be in Independence Cemetary in Saranac, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children's Ministry at the Church of the Nazarene or the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be made at www.rwwalkerfh.com.
Richard Dallas Gifford
Press-Republican
PLATTSBURGH — Richard Dallas Gifford, 87, of Concord Avenue, was called home by his Savior Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at his home with his wife at his side. He was born in Laurel, Neb., Oct., 13, 1924, the son of Dallas and Blanche (Baker) Gifford.
A 1942 graduate of Wayne High School in Wayne, Neb., Richard was a proud member of the 1942 Nebraska State Basketball Champions. Answering his country's call to duty in WWII, Richard joined the U.S. Marine Corps and entered active duty in March of 1944, serving in the Asian-Pacific Theatre as a crew member of the USS Baltimore, Task Force 51, under the command of Admiral "Hurricane" Halsey. During his term of service, Cpl. Gifford earned five battle stars, four in the Asian-Pacific Theatre and one in the Phillippine Campaign. Honorably discharged in November of 1945, Richard returned to Nebraska and met Ida Iwilda Macklin in 1946. The two were married in August of 1947 at the United Methodist Church in Pender, Neb.
Richard earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master degrees at the University of Nebraska in 1952 and 1957, respectively. He worked for several years in the agricultural sciences in Nebraska, both as an agricultural extension agent and as a vocational agricultural teacher in public high schools. He was the recipient of Ford Foundation and National Science Foundation Post-Graduate fellowships in the late 1950s, attending both Cornell and Colgate Universities. Beginning in 1959, Richard began teaching earth science in the city school district of Rome, N.Y. From 1964 to 1968, he served with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. His mission was to establish and direct the office of Continuing Education at the University of Liberia. Following the completion of his four-year contract, Richard pursued post-graduate work in continuing education at Michigan State University. In 1971, he accepted a position in the Dept. Continuing Education at Plattsburgh State University, retiring in 1983.
Richard and his wife Ida were founding members of the Grace Fellowship Church of Plattsburgh in 1979, where he served with distinction as a Sunday school teacher and an elder for many years. He and his wife were also active in a musical ministry to the nursing homes of Plattsburgh. His deep love for his Savior, and people, was evidenced by all who knew him, both during his career at Plattsburgh State and in his retirement. Richard attended the Nazarene Church in Plattsburgh. He was also active in volunteer organizations in the Plattsburgh area, including the Office for the Aging, North Country Food Service, the N.Y. State Heart and Lung Associations and many others.
Survivors include his wife Ida; two sons, R. Scott Gifford and his wife Renee of Plattsburgh, and Ferris Gifford and his wife Deborah of Elizabethtown; five grandchildren, Alexander, Timothy, Aaron, Anelise and Candace; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by an infant daughter, who died at birth, their daughter Peggy and two siblings.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court St., Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be in Independence Cemetary in Saranac, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children's Ministry at the Church of the Nazarene or the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be made at www.rwwalkerfh.com.
March 22, 2012
Richard Dallas Gifford
Press-Republican
PLATTSBURGH — Richard Dallas Gifford, 87, of Concord Avenue, was called home by his Savior Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at his home with his wife at his side. He was born in Laurel, Neb., Oct., 13, 1924, the son of Dallas and Blanche (Baker) Gifford.
A 1942 graduate of Wayne High School in Wayne, Neb., Richard was a proud member of the 1942 Nebraska State Basketball Champions. Answering his country's call to duty in WWII, Richard joined the U.S. Marine Corps and entered active duty in March of 1944, serving in the Asian-Pacific Theatre as a crew member of the USS Baltimore, Task Force 51, under the command of Admiral "Hurricane" Halsey. During his term of service, Cpl. Gifford earned five battle stars, four in the Asian-Pacific Theatre and one in the Phillippine Campaign. Honorably discharged in November of 1945, Richard returned to Nebraska and met Ida Iwilda Macklin in 1946. The two were married in August of 1947 at the United Methodist Church in Pender, Neb.
Richard earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master degrees at the University of Nebraska in 1952 and 1957, respectively. He worked for several years in the agricultural sciences in Nebraska, both as an agricultural extension agent and as a vocational agricultural teacher in public high schools. He was the recipient of Ford Foundation and National Science Foundation Post-Graduate fellowships in the late 1950s, attending both Cornell and Colgate Universities. Beginning in 1959, Richard began teaching earth science in the city school district of Rome, N.Y. From 1964 to 1968, he served with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. His mission was to establish and direct the office of Continuing Education at the University of Liberia. Following the completion of his four-year contract, Richard pursued post-graduate work in continuing education at Michigan State University. In 1971, he accepted a position in the Dept. Continuing Education at Plattsburgh State University, retiring in 1983.
Richard and his wife Ida were founding members of the Grace Fellowship Church of Plattsburgh in 1979, where he served with distinction as a Sunday school teacher and an elder for many years. He and his wife were also active in a musical ministry to the nursing homes of Plattsburgh. His deep love for his Savior, and people, was evidenced by all who knew him, both during his career at Plattsburgh State and in his retirement. Richard attended the Nazarene Church in Plattsburgh. He was also active in volunteer organizations in the Plattsburgh area, including the Office for the Aging, North Country Food Service, the N.Y. State Heart and Lung Associations and many others.
Survivors include his wife Ida; two sons, R. Scott Gifford and his wife Renee of Plattsburgh, and Ferris Gifford and his wife Deborah of Elizabethtown; five grandchildren, Alexander, Timothy, Aaron, Anelise and Candace; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by an infant daughter, who died at birth, their daughter Peggy and two siblings.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court St., Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be in Independence Cemetary in Saranac, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children's Ministry at the Church of the Nazarene or the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be made at www.rwwalkerfh.com.
Richard Dallas Gifford
Press-Republican
PLATTSBURGH — Richard Dallas Gifford, 87, of Concord Avenue, was called home by his Savior Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at his home with his wife at his side. He was born in Laurel, Neb., Oct., 13, 1924, the son of Dallas and Blanche (Baker) Gifford.
A 1942 graduate of Wayne High School in Wayne, Neb., Richard was a proud member of the 1942 Nebraska State Basketball Champions. Answering his country's call to duty in WWII, Richard joined the U.S. Marine Corps and entered active duty in March of 1944, serving in the Asian-Pacific Theatre as a crew member of the USS Baltimore, Task Force 51, under the command of Admiral "Hurricane" Halsey. During his term of service, Cpl. Gifford earned five battle stars, four in the Asian-Pacific Theatre and one in the Phillippine Campaign. Honorably discharged in November of 1945, Richard returned to Nebraska and met Ida Iwilda Macklin in 1946. The two were married in August of 1947 at the United Methodist Church in Pender, Neb.
Richard earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master degrees at the University of Nebraska in 1952 and 1957, respectively. He worked for several years in the agricultural sciences in Nebraska, both as an agricultural extension agent and as a vocational agricultural teacher in public high schools. He was the recipient of Ford Foundation and National Science Foundation Post-Graduate fellowships in the late 1950s, attending both Cornell and Colgate Universities. Beginning in 1959, Richard began teaching earth science in the city school district of Rome, N.Y. From 1964 to 1968, he served with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. His mission was to establish and direct the office of Continuing Education at the University of Liberia. Following the completion of his four-year contract, Richard pursued post-graduate work in continuing education at Michigan State University. In 1971, he accepted a position in the Dept. Continuing Education at Plattsburgh State University, retiring in 1983.
Richard and his wife Ida were founding members of the Grace Fellowship Church of Plattsburgh in 1979, where he served with distinction as a Sunday school teacher and an elder for many years. He and his wife were also active in a musical ministry to the nursing homes of Plattsburgh. His deep love for his Savior, and people, was evidenced by all who knew him, both during his career at Plattsburgh State and in his retirement. Richard attended the Nazarene Church in Plattsburgh. He was also active in volunteer organizations in the Plattsburgh area, including the Office for the Aging, North Country Food Service, the N.Y. State Heart and Lung Associations and many others.
Survivors include his wife Ida; two sons, R. Scott Gifford and his wife Renee of Plattsburgh, and Ferris Gifford and his wife Deborah of Elizabethtown; five grandchildren, Alexander, Timothy, Aaron, Anelise and Candace; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by an infant daughter, who died at birth, their daughter Peggy and two siblings.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court St., Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be in Independence Cemetary in Saranac, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children's Ministry at the Church of the Nazarene or the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be made at www.rwwalkerfh.com.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
