Hood, John Gifford 'Giff'

John Gifford “Giff” Hood, 83, of Battle Creek, Mich., died Oct. 28, 2012, at home.

Giff was born Feb. 11, 1929, the son of Henry J. and Angie M. (Rowley) Hood in Springville, Iowa.

Giff graduated from Springville High School in 1946 as salutatorian of his class. As a senior, he was the starting center on the Springfield High basketball team which qualified for the finals of the State Championship tournament despite the 17-student size of Springville's graduating class that year. He received his bachelor's degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and did graduate studies at Syracuse University and Harvard. He married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Cooper, upon his graduation from Cornell. Giff served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After beginning his professional career in sales with IBM, he accepted a data processing management position at Bethlehem Steel. He later worked as a banker at the Bank of New York and First National Bank of St. Paul (Minnesota). After retiring, Giff and Carolyn owned and operated an Olsten Temporary Services franchise in San Bernardino, Calif.

Giff is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn (Cooper) Hood of Battle Creek; sons, Dan (Camille) Hood of Battle Creek and Hank (Pam) Hood of Plano, Texas; daughter, Lydia (Craig) Holley of Sewickley, Pa.; six grandchildren (Katie and Christine Madisen Hood of Battle Creek, Russell, Lucy and Larissa Holley of Sewickley and Jordan Hood of Plano; as well as his brother, Milan Hood of Marshalltown, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hilda Kregel; and brother, Harold Hood.

Giff was a member of Westlake Presbyterian Church and a life member of Disabled American Veterans. He enjoyed trap and skeet shooting and watching and officiating at his children's swim meets.

Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion, with the Rev. Dr. Karen Downey Beals of Springville Presbyterian Church presiding. The family will receive friends from noon until 1 p.m. Saturday. Interment will take place immediately following the services at Jordan's Grove Cemetery in rural Central City, Iowa.

Memorial donations may go to the Springville Presbyterian Church.

Please sign the online guest book for Giff at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Nov. 4, 2012 in The Gazette