William “Bill” J. Gifford, retired Chief of Police of Windsor Locks

William “Bill” J. Gifford, 72, retired Chief of Police of Windsor Locks and husband of Sandra (Lunn) Gifford entered into Eternal Rest on Saturday, September 3, 2011, at home with his loving family by his side.

Bill was born September 22, 1938, in Hartford, CT the son of the late William H. and Helen (Pieniak) Gifford. He served in the United States Air Force and later joined the Windsor Locks Police Department in 1961. Bill proudly rose through the ranks of the department from Patrolman to Chief. He was sworn in as the Chief in 1989 and retired in March 2000 after a thirty-nine year career, eleven of those as Chief. He was a member of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association and enjoyed golfing, tending to his vegetable garden, watching the Boston Red Sox, his many family trips especially to Lenny and Joe’s, but most of all he loved the time spent with family especially his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Sandy, Bill is survived by four children, Debra Gifford of Windsor Locks, Jeffrey Gifford and his wife, Christine of Enfield, Valerie Brangan and her husband, Timothy of Ashford and Dawn Sopelak and her husband, James of Windsor Locks. Bill is also survived by a sister, Sherry Fader of Randolph, MA and his grandchildren, Rebecca and Brittany Whiteley, Tyler and Nicole Johnson, Megan and Julie Gifford, Kyle and Connor Brangan, Hunter and Logan Sopelak; three great grandchildren, Mallory, Breanna, Olivia; brothers-in-law, Wilfred Gauthier and his wife, Brenda, Aimeé Gauthier and his wife, Claire, Dennis Lunn and his wife, Christine all of NH, close family friends, Scott and Tara Thompson and their daughters all of East Hartford and several nieces, nephews and his special friend Jacob. Bill was predeceased by his first wife, Pauline (Gauthier) Gifford and a son, Marc Gifford.

Relatives and friends joined the family on Thursday, September 8, 2011,  at the Windsor Locks Funeral Home, 441 Spring St., Windsor Locks, A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on TODAY, September 9, 2011, at 10 am at St. Mary Church, 42 Spring St., Windsor Locks. Burial was held with military honors at St. Mary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in memory of Bill may be made to the American Cancer Society/Relay for Life the South Windsor/Rockville Team, “For the one’s we love” 538 Preston Avenue, P.O. Box 1004. Meriden, CT 06450-1004 or to the Masonicare Hospice 111 Founders Plz # 200, East Hartford, CT 06108-8306.