Ralph Gilbert Giffen

Ralph Gilbert Giffen, 83, of Bryan, TX, passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Ralph was born on September 29, 1941, in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He spent his early years growing up and attending schools in West Virginia and Ohio. In 1960, he was a member of the first graduating class at Eastern Local High School in Reedsville, Ohio.

Ralph enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1960 at age 18. He served his country for four years and was stationed in Germany, Istanbul, and Iran.

After his time in the Air Force, Ralph began his career as an over-the-road truck driver. For over two decades, he drove an 18-wheeler, crisscrossing the country and visiting the lower 48 states.

During this time, he met the love of his life, Sharon Leah Kelley, and they married on August 5, 1967, spending 55 wonderful years together and building a life for themselves and their four children. The Giffen family resided in Belpre, Coolville, Little Hocking, Barlow, Ohio, and Baltimore, Maryland. In 1983, Ralph, Sharon, and the kids relocated to Bryan, Texas, where Ralph began his career with the United States Postal Service. In 1995, Ralph, Sharon, and their youngest daughter, Darla, moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, until he retired from the Post Office in 2002.

Having already lived a full life of work and raising kids, Ralph and Sharon were not done as they began their next adventure in "retirement" as team-over-the-road truck drivers. Together, they traveled across the country for over 10 years, experiencing all of the lower 48 states and Canada, along with their faithful companion puppy, Brandy, who was adopted from a Wal-Mart parking lot because "Sharon wanted a dog."

Ralph was a simple man of few words. He felt most at ease in pearl snap shirts, Wrangler rancher dress slacks, boots, and a trucker hat. He was a long-suffering fan of the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Reds. As a semi-pro bowler, he achieved multiple perfect "300" games and had rings to prove it. Above all, he was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather; family meant everything to him, and his family loved him dearly.

Ralph is survived by his children Michael (Michele) Giffen of Pickerington, Ohio; Angela (Chuck) Fleeger of Bryan, Texas; Jennifer Giffen-Stephens of Chicago, Illinois; and Darla (William) Beasley of Apex, North Carolina; ten grandchildren: Kristin, Joseph, Stephanie, Sarah, Macy, Mitchell, Christian, KeShawn, Camron, and Irene; five great-grandchildren: Kingsley, Hayes, Makayla, Janie, and Haven; another great-grandchild on the way due in December 2025, and siblings Clyde Eugene (Linda) Giffen, David Carl (Rena) Giffen, Violet Irene "Sis" (Robert) Marshall, and Sherri (John) Bartlett.

Ralph is preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Leah (Kelley) Giffen; his infant brother, Daniel Lee Giffen; and his parents, Lawrence Gilbert Giffen and Violet Irene (Bolen) Giffen.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Callaway Jones Funeral Home (3001 South College Avenue, Bryan, TX 77801), with visitation before the service from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

A graveside service will take place at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 2822 SR-339, in Belpre, Ohio.

Memorial donations may be made to Wreaths Across America or St. Jude Children's Cancer Research instead of flowers.