Guy Bruce Gifford

Guy Bruce Gifford, 86, a longtime resident of Dayton, Ohio, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024, just one month shy of his 87th birthday.

Guy was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of George Odilon Gifford and Bertha Elizabeth Green. He moved with his mother to Dayton when he was 6 years old and lived the rest of his life there. In 1956, he graduated from Wilber Wright High School and married his high school sweetheart, Janice Marquardt, also of Dayton.

Guy was the owner of "Guy's Classic Cars," living out his lifelong passion for restoring classic and antique cars. He was President of the Thunderbirds Club and attended many car shows nationwide over the years. He retired from General Motors but held many jobs in his long life including working at Winters Bank and later becoming a building contractor, managing household renovations in the local area. In the late 1950s, he was a member of the Ohio Army National Guard's 136th Field Artillery Battalion and was honorably discharged in June 1959. He enjoyed learning about his ancestors and recently became a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), honoring his Colonial American heritage, and La Société des Filles-du-Roi et Soldats-du-Carignan, Corp. (SFRSC), honoring his French-Canadian ancestry. He was also a member of the local American Legion.

Guy is survived by his wife, Janice Elaine Marquardt, his daughters, Cathy Lynn Schott of Virginia, Gwen Ellen Nevin of Huber Heights, Ohio, Gay Elaine Young, of Columbus, Ohio; and 10 grandchildren, Dawn and Heather Gifford, Courtney Rowe, Janice Nevin Fryer, Bradley, Bryan, Benjamin and Blake Young, Brandon Schott, Coelle Schott Merdler; and 9 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Green Langston, his father, George O. Gifford, his son, Gregory Bruce Gifford, and his daughter, Gail Lynn Gifford.

Services will be held at the Newcomers Funeral Home, 4104 Needmore Road, Dayton, Ohio 45424. Burial will follow at the Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery.

A special thank you to the nurses who came to care for him several times a week during his final days.