Joseph Gift Sr.Joseph Gift Sr.Joseph Luther Gift Sr., 90, formerly of Astoria, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He was a minister at Astoria Christian Church for many years.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Engh Gift.
Surviving are four children, Betty Jo Yarling of Evanston, Joseph Jr. (and Marsha) of Washington, C.J. Weinman of Tallahassee, Fla., and Wendell (and Kathy) of Churchville, Pa.; two sisters, Helen Phillips of Three Oaks, Mich., and Eleanor New of Indianapolis, Ind.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was born in Converse, Ind. and spent his early adult years in Indiana. He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Butler University in Indianapolis.
He was a minister in the Christian Church for over 50 years, serving in churches in Indiana, Illinois and Florida. He had lived in Fort Pierce, Fla., for 30 years and had been living in Tallahassee with his family for the past three years.
He served four years in the United States Navy as a submariner in Pearl Harbor prior to World War II.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Culley's Meadow-Wood Riggins Road Chapel in Tallahassee. You may call 850-877-8191 for more information.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Project of Tallahassee, 301 E. Tharpe St., Tallahassee, FL 32303.