Joseph, Oregon
Gifford “Giff” Ryder Case died Feb. 27, 2007, at home in Joseph with his wife Susanna, son Richard, and daughter Lorri at his side. He was 87.
Mr. Case was born Sept 21, 1919, on a rural family farm five miles outside of Milford, Penn. He was the third of six boys born to Arthur B. Case and Emilie Fieg Case. Mr. Case loved sharing stories of his childhood and teen years growing up on the beloved Oak Tree Farm.
In 1938, after trying a year at Drexel Institute College, he set out on a travel adventure across the U.S. toward the “Gold Coast” and maybe South America in a 1932 Chevrolet roadster. In Southern California, as fate would have it, he met and married the love of his life Susanna Waggoner.
They raised four children in Maywood, Calif., sharing just about everything together including a lifelong philosophy centered around the family and a deep religious faith.
Mr. Case became a radar technician in the navy during World War II and later trained as an electrician. He belonged to the IBEW Electrical Union for 60 years in which he actively worked 34 years.
He willingly shared his numerous electrical handyman skills throughout his life and after retiring would only work for others as a “gift of love.”
He was an elder, deacon, teacher, youth director, and choir member in the Bell Christian Church and at his death was a deacon in the Enterprise Christian Church.
He was active in various community service organizations, such as city councilman and mayor in Maywood, Calif., little league baseball coach and the Lions Club in Hemet, Calif. and Joseph.
His interests included camping, fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, traveling to national parks, baseball, waterskiing, and working on projects at home. He liked golfing, square dancing, traveling, and doing things for others.
In 1993 the couple moved to Joseph where together they built their final home from scratch. He took great pride in his yard, flower beds, and feeding the birds.
Mr. Case was known as a man of integrity. His humor and gracefulness made him a joy to be around.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and one sister. Mr. Case is survived by his wife of 67 years, Susanna; children Richard of Williams Lake, British Columbia, Gerald and wife Sandra of San Clemente, Calif., Lorri and husband Steve of Billings, Mont., Daniel and wife Terri of Murrieta, Calif.; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Wallowa County Chieftain, March 8, 2007
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Gifford Ryder Case, 87, died Feb. 27 at his home in Joseph. A memorial service took place March 3 at the Enterprise Christian Church. Burial was at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif.
Mr. Case, known as “Giff,” was born Sept. 21,1919, on a family farm five miles outside of Milford, Pa., to Arthur B. Case and Emilie (Fieg) Case. He loved sharing stories of his childhood and teen years growing up on the beloved Oak Tree Farm.
In 1938, after trying a year at Drexel Institute College, he set out on a travel adventure across the United States in a 1932 Chevrolet roadster. In Southern California, he met and married Susanna Waggoner. They raised four children in Maywood, Calif.
During World War II Mr. Case served as a radar technician in the Navy. He later trained as an electrician and retired after 34 years.
He belonged to the IBEW Electrical Union for 60 years. Throughout his life, he willingly shared his numerous electrical handyman skills.
Mr. Case was a man of integrity and placed family needs, friendships and his Christian faith above any desire for personal, social or material gain.
He served as an elder, deacon, teacher, youth director and choir member in the Bell Christian Church and as a deacon in the Enterprise Christian Church. He was active in various community service organizations, serving as city councilman and mayor in Maywood, Calif., and was a member of the Lions Club in Hemet, Calif., and Joseph. He was also a Little League coach.
Early on hobbies and interests with the family included camping, fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, traveling to national parks, baseball, waterskiing and working on projects at home. Later interests also included golfing, square dancing, traveling and doing things for others.
In 1993, the Cases moved to Joseph, where they built their final home from scratch. He took great pride in his yard and flower beds and enjoyed feeding the birds.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Susanna; children and their spouses, Richard of Williams Lake, British Columbia, Gerald and Sandra of San Clemente, Calif., Lorri and Steve of Billings, Mont., and Daniel and Terri of Murrieta, Calif.; and six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and a sister.
The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending Mar. 10, 2007 Published: March 10, 2007
