WEST FRANKFORT -- Hugh Dale Gifford, 85, formerly of West Frankfort, a former local businessman, died Saturday, March 5, 2011, in Lake Wales Florida Rehab Center after a heart attack. He was born Sept. 30, 1925, in West Frankfort, the son of Emory and Myrtle (Tharp) Gifford. His parents preceded him in death. Dale was a West Frankfort businessman from 1946 to 1995 when he sold his business. He operated Gifford's Ace Hardware Store on West Poplar and Gifford's Gift Shop on East Main Street for 49 years. He retired to Lily Lake in Frostproof, Fla., where he enjoyed the Florida sunshine. He was also a U.S. Air Force veteran during the 1940s. Surviving relatives include two uncles, Dwight Tharp of West Frankfort, Ethridge (Lola) Tharp, Christopher; cousins, Dean (Sylvia) Tharp and Annetta Tharp of West Frankfort, Judy and (George) Buck and Diane Rhodes of Springfield, Jean Berger of Newburgh, Ind., Sue (Dave) Painter of North Carolina, Jackie (Tom) Johnson of Rochester, N.Y., Janice (Dale) Richardson and Judy (Kenny) Pearce of Ewing; special friends, Mike Boose, Harold "Bud" and Sue Conn of Frostproof, Fla., and Henry and Cathy Bozic of Avon Park, Fla. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Union Funeral Home of West Frankfort, with the Rev. H.A. Hilderbrand officiating. Entombment will be in Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Frankfort Historical Museum in West Frankfort. Online condolences of sympathy may be made at www.unionfh.com. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on March 9, 2011