Jack was born to Cecil and Vera Gifford on their farm 5 miles south of Republican City (Harlan County), Nebraska. He passed away, at the age of 87, on February 2, 2014 at Swedish Hospital. He attended part of grade school and high school in Kearney, Nebraska and then started college at the University of Colorado. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Navy during World War II and served in the American and Pacific theaters.

After the war he returned to the University of Colorado where he met the love of his life, Helen Leonard. They were married in 1948 in Bond Chapel, University of Chicago campus and moved to New Jersey after graduation working for RCA where he was in charge of transistor (which later became microchips) development starting shortly after the invention of the transistor. He completed graduate work at Stephens Institute of Technology in 1954 while working for RCA. Their two sons were born in New Jersey in 1952 and 1955 and in 1962 they moved to Vashon/Maury Island where they have lived ever since.

They often remarked to each other how lucky they were to live on Vashon/Maury. Such an ideal location and so many wonderful friends. He opened a field engineering sales office for RCA in Seattle in 1961 and in 1965 joined Boeing and held a variety of engineering management positions until retirement in 1986. He and Helen loved and enjoyed each other, family, friends, travel, sailing and life in general. They were life members of Quartermaster Yacht Club. Jack was also chairman of the local Scout Committee when their sons were growing up. He and Helen enjoyed building and sailing their much loved sailboat Sea Dreamer II. They also enjoyed and loved their home of 51 years on Quartermaster Harbor.

He is survived by his wife Helen, two sons and their wives, John and Janet of LaConner, Washington and Paul and Janette of Isle of Palms, South Carolina; grandsons Jarad, Kevan, Brian, and Kamron; granddaughter Stephanie; step-grandson Brian Kayler; and sister-in-laws Jean Gifford of England and Janet Leonard of Illinois.

Memorial contributions preferred to a charity of your choice, if possible, on Vashon Island. A graveside service will be held at Vashon Cemetery on Saturday, February 8 at 10:00 AM. No additional service is planned per Jack’s request.

Please visit our online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com

Paid Obituary.