Chuck, he was one of a kind I don't think I ever met a more intellectual and pleasant person.  He was loved by my family and they by Myrna's.  He was the love of my sister Zona's life and I know he was the love of Myrna's life and I know he love these two woman with all his heart. He will be missed.

Sometimes in life, if you're very lucky, everything comes together just right. At a time when you least expect it, at a time when you weren't even trying for it, all the stars in the sky seem to line up. And you meet a person who is just perfect for you. That is what happened to me and to my beloved Charles twenty years ago.

From the our first email, to our first phone conversation, to the moment we first met in person in a little café in Athens, Charles touched my heart in a way that no one ever had. Here was a gentle soul with a wry sense of humor, a sensitivity and understanding, and an amazing intelligence in so many different areas, and I was actually blessed enough to have found him. 

Charles made me laugh every day. He helped me see the humor in life and taught me to laugh at myself. Charles showed me that with people you really love, you can smile at their little quirks and accept them because those very traits are what make each of us who we are. His wonderful sense of humor never left him. Even at the very end of his life, Charles was still joking with the nurses and doctors, aides and assistants. After lying in his hospital bed for weeks, Charles was stiff and sore. One day a particularly strong fellow came to transport him to dialysis. Charles asked if he could just be shifted around in the bed from side to side because he didn't have the strength to do it himself. The young man was so strong and so good natured, he was able to move Charles back and forth, back and forth across his bed until at last his discomfort was alleviated. In gratitude, I told the fellow that I wanted to hire him and take him home with us. But Charles looked straight at him and said emphatically, “No, I want to bribe you. Really, I want to bribe you.” He had us both in stitches. 

I was continually amazed at how much insight Charles had into human nature. He seemed to be able to read people so well, from sullen teenagers to aging curmudgeons. Of course, that didn't stop Charles from being a terrible tease. He had a special epithet for everyone. For example, I was the “picture straightener” because of my penchant for neatening things up. His dad was dubbed “Happy Charlie” because he was known to frown upon any and all newfangled notions, and frequently lamented the way people did things nowadays (computers-ugh!). Charles was so compassionate and supportive whenever I or someone in our lives was having a hard time. He truly lived his faith, leading by example and showing us all what it means to be a good Christian. Charles always encouraged me to follow my passions—to travel, to run marathons, to start a new business. Even if an interest of mine was one that he didn't share, I knew I could count on Charles to be right there on the sidelines cheering me on, celebrating my victories and consoling me in my setbacks.

One of our favorite evening activities was watching Jeopardy and calling out the answers. Charles continually amazed me with the breadth of his knowledge. He might groan when the topic was something obscure like 18th century French literature…but then he would pop out with the correct answer, time and again. “How did you know that?” I would ask him. “Oh, I read it somewhere,” he would say. Charles had the most amazing memory and never forgot anything he had read or seen. As I understand it, this trait stood him in good stead in his Air Force job when he reviewed plans of the contractors. To many a contractor's chagrin, Charles would frequently interrupt a presentation or proposal by calling the presenter's attention to the fact that he was contradicting what he had said thirty minutes earlier. And Charles took such pride in being an electronics engineer and using his wonderful brain in the service of his country. If you are one of his work colleagues, you know that Charles led a team that developed the 1553 data bus, enabling different computers on an aircraft to communicate with each other. Thirty years later, that data bus is still being used on military aircraft and even on the space shuttle. 

Charles and I had many adventures in our nineteen years of marriage. We took long road trips throughout his beloved Southwest; we visited all of the National Parks and most of the National Monuments. We went rock hounding to gather gems and minerals from old mines. Charles accompanied me when I presented a workshop in New Zealand, and his detailed planning turned that trip into two weeks of the most incredible vacation ever. 

Well, sometimes in life, if you're very unlucky, everything falls apart. At a time when you think you have years of happiness ahead of you, at a time when you are planning a trip to Scotland for your 20th anniversary, all the stars seem to fall from the sky. And the person who is just perfect for you is called away, far before his time. That is what happened to me when I lost my beloved Charles last Sunday. I don't know how the trees can dare to bloom. I am angry at the grass for turning green. But Charles would be the first to point out to me that we never know when our time will come, that we must live each day as if it were our last because anyone's life can just disappear at a moment's notice. Charles, you will always be in my heart. You are a part of me now. And though I miss you unbearably, I know that you are at peace. You have left me with enough memories to last a lifetime.

Worked with Chuck in SEAFAC.  A dear friend and will be missed.

Chuck and my path joined a number of times while working at WPAFB.  From the days of the digital data bus to the C-17.  I enjoyed his guidance in approaching complex technical issues.  We also often discussed enjoyment of family.  Sometimes we both got something wrong, like buying generators due to an expectation that Y2K was going to bring disruptions, it didn't, but we learned and he so very much enjoyed learning.

Our team shares your sorrow, and sends our prayers and thoughts to you during this time of loss.   
Ed Sherman  "Taz", GS-14 DAF
AFLCMC/HBSR (Chief Engineer, AWACS Emerging Capabilities Branch)
AFLCMC/HBSE (Chief, Test Engineering, IA & Interdependencies Schedule)

Chuck was my right hand man through the avionics analog to digital transition.  We together developed the digital Multiplex Data Bus that became Mil-Std-1553 which intoduced the plug and play concept to avionic sensors, etc.  He was very tech savy who could take any idea presented to him and he would turn it into reality.   He ran the avionic laboratory called SEAFAC where young engineers could get hands-on experience.  Chuck will be missed!

I was lucky enough to work with Chuck back in the early 1970s at Wright-Patt.  Chuck was a straight-shooter: his yes always meant yes; his no always meant know.  Integrity plus.  Chuck was one of the few in Area B who remained a true hands-on engineer.  Everyone know when he was getting close to solving some tough problem by his big grin!  Thanks, Chuck, for lots of reasons.

OBITUARY

Charles Abel Gifford Jr.

May 16, 1944 – April 21, 2013

Tobias Funeral Home - Beavercreek Chapel

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