Allen Gifford was born on August 17, 1930 in Hemet, California. He finished his race and went to be with his Lord on May 16, 2020. He died peacefully at home in Riverside, California. He was 89 years old. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ella Mae (Thrasher) Gifford, his four sons: Richard, John, Dennis, and Larry. He is also survived by a brother, Jesse Harold Gifford. Allen was preceded in death by his father John, his mother Adell and five siblings: John, Virgil, Dorothy, Paul, and Orrin.
Allen was always on the move. He loved to travel and experience new sights and meet new people. He was born as his family was enroute from Oklahoma to California during the dustbowl era. He was born in Hemet, California while the family was working the fields as itinerant farmhands. They kept moving. His childhood was marked by hard work and continual moving from town to town throughout the Central Valley; to wherever the family could find work. At age 16, he and two friends left home and decided to hop a freight train headed east – they didn’t buy a ticket, they just hopped the train. They traveled across the country and ended up in Florida for a short while before deciding to head home.
In February 1948, Allen joined the US Army Air Force. He was 17 years old. After basic training, he was moving again – to Adak Alaska in the Aleutian Islands. His job was, of course, driving various military personnel around the base. When he finished his time in Alaska, he was able to choose his next duty assignment – he chose March AFB in Riverside, California. He said that he did not know why he chose it. It seemed that destiny was at work because he would soon meet the love of his life.
Allen met Ella Mae Thrasher at a skating rink in Riverside. He noticed her staking alone and asked if he could skate with her. She said okay and so they began a conversation, while in motion of course, that has lasted more than 70 years. They were married just three months later. Together they had 4 sons, 14 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson - and counting.
Allen spent most of his working life moving, driving trucks. He loved annual family vacations. Often, they would just set out on the road without a destination in mind. On one such occasion Ella asked him where they were headed. He responded that he didn’t know but that they were making good time. The destination wasn’t important, it was the traveling he loved.
At age 40 he had a serious heart attack. In 1970 coronary bypass surgery was very new with few hospitals able to perform the procedure. Again, providence was at work as he was taken to Loma Linda University Hospital where they were able to provide the surgery with a doctor who pioneered the procedure. He recovered but was told that his life expectancy was about 10 years. That was 1970.
He loved to explore. He loved music. He loved his family. He never complained and he never gave up. From a childhood of abject poverty and with only an 8th Grade education he built a life of stability and opportunity for his wife and sons. They always had a good home and everything they needed. He was quiet in his faith and resolute in his outlook. He took life as it came and overcame every obstacle. He was humble, always willing to be in the background while promoting others. He was thoughtful and quiet but passionate about his family. He was a friend to everyone he met.
He is still moving – from this world to the next. He is exploring and sharing new, profound life with the family that preceded him. I know he remembers his own and, in his own way, is still looking out for them and anxious to load them all up someday to explore the wonders of heaven without any particular destination in mind.
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