Ralph W Gifford

Ralph W. Gifford, 75, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 26, 2015. Born to the late Harlan and Irena Gifford on September 4, 1939 in Schenectady. Graduate of Draper High School, he served proudly in the US Army at West Point from 1963-1965. Ralph retired in 2000 after more than 32 years of driving trucks for Mobil, Westcott Oil and Getty. Ralph enjoyed his 15 years of retirement with family and friends and his loving wife, Pat. Ralph is a lifelong member of Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church where he served the Lord in many aspects. Ralph is survived by his wife, Patricia Rockwell Arbour Gifford, his children, Audrey (Eugene) Hotaling, Gary (Beth-Anne) Gifford, step-children, Jeffrey (Barbara) Arbour, Gary (Virginia) Arbour, Susan Bardin, his sisters, Margaret (Jim) Bixby, Dorothy Tygert, brother, Warren (Inge) Gifford, as well as 11 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and several brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. Ralph was predeceased by his brothers, George Gifford, Durrell Gifford and Robert Gifford, and his wife of 37 years, Louise Livingston Gifford. A visitation will be held on Thursday April 30 from 5-8pm at Bond Funeral Home, 1614 Guilderland Ave., Schenectady. Funeral services will be on Friday, May 1 at 10am at Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 3662 Giffords Church Rd, Duanesburg, NY 12056. Interment will take place in Schenectady Memorial Park, Rotterdam. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Ralph Gifford to the Kidney Transplant Program at Albany Medical Center c/o AMC Foundation, PO Box 8928, Albany, NY 12208 or to Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church at the address above. Special thanks to Dr. Hsu, Dr. Conti and Dr. Lopez-Soler and all of the staff on C3 and the kidney transplant program at Albany Medical Center for extending Ralph's life. Also the family wishes to thank Community Hospice of Schenectady and NY Oncology Hematology.