Plan for the Future
William (Bill) Ralph Gifford, born December 20, 1919 in Beacon, New York, age 97 of Summit, New Jersey and Marco Island, Florida passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Overlook Hospital. Bill graduated from The Ohio State University in 1947; he was preceded in death by his wife Gretchen Elizabeth who he met while enrolled at Ohio State and they married in June 1947 shortly after his graduation.
He went to work for Price Waterhouse in New York City, became a CPA and made Partner, retiring in 1980 at the mandatory retirement age of 60. He then became the Dean of Accountancy at CW Post University on Long Island. After 51 blissful years of marriage he became a widower.
Bill was drafted in the Army, October 23, 1941, and after Pearl Harbor transferred from the Army Corp of Engineers to the Army Air Corps flying as a navigator and later as a bombardier in the 824th Bombardment Squadron on a B-24 Liberator.
He loved to dance, travel and entertain.
Bill is remembered as a wonderful Father, Husband, Grandfather, friend and mentor.
His last years were spent at Winchester Gardens where in continued to make friends and enjoy life.
He is survived by his three sons William Junior (Nancy), Russell and Gregory (Kim); grandsons William III (Lillian), Geoffrey (Shareen) and granddaughters Ashley, Chelsea, Kara, Grace and Paige.
A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, May 15, 2017 at Bradley, Brough & Dangler Funeral Home, 299 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901. A Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 p.m. on Monday at Central Presbyterian Church, 70 Maple St, Summit, NJ 07901. An interment will be held at Fair Mount Cemetery, Chatham, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill’s name to Central Presbyterian Church.