Jack L. Gifford

Gifford, Jack L. EAST DURHAM, N.Y. Jack L. Gifford, 79, of East Durham, passed away suddenly at the Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, N.Y. on August 11, 2009. He was born in Durham, N.Y. on July 26, 1930, son of the late Charles "Jack" and Anna (Weid-inger) Gifford. Jack was a career Navy man being discharged in 1968 as a chief petty officer. He served on many different ships including the "USS Saratoga" the "USS Oriskany" the "USS Quill Back" submarine and his last ship, the "USS Samuel Gompers". He had received the Good Conduct Medal (five), National Defense Service Medal (two), and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (one). He was a member and past commander of the Durham Valley Post #1416 American Legion, a member and past commander of the Greene County American Legion, a member of the Fleet Reserve Assn. and a former member of the Oak Hill Durham Vol. Fire Co. Loving a good time, he was an avid Yankee fan, loved his gardening and playing all types of card games, especially poker. Surviving is his wife, Florence (Vetter) Gifford; his sons, Michael Gifford (Suzanne La Rosa), Patrick Gifford (Angelika); his stepchildren, Michael Flannery (Sharon), Maureen Klimtzak (Michael), Lorraine Spinner (Thomas), Daniel Flannery (Suzanne) and Kathleen Cutright (Gary); also 14 grandchildren, five great- grandchildren; a brother, Richard Gifford and sister, Audrey Reffner. Funeral service will be 8 p.m. Thursday, August 13 at the Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville, N.Y. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m. prior to the service. The Oak Hill-Durham Vol. Fire Co. & the Durham Valley Post 1416 American Legion will conduct services at the funeral home prior to the funeral. Interment will be on Friday, August 14 at 9:30 a.m. in the Saratoga National Cemetery. Those who desire may donate in his memory to the town of Durham Ambulance Fund.