GIVENS, Ralph Arthur

Male 1946 - 2008  (61 years)


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  • Name GIVENS, Ralph Arthur 
    Born 12 Sep 1946  New Castle, Henry, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 13 Aug 2008  Noblesville, Hamilton, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Buried 18 Aug 2008  Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I1025  Connecticut Spangs
    Last Modified 23 Jun 2015 

    Father GIVENS, Willis Albert,   b. 08 Apr 1904, Near Noblesville, Madison County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 03 Mar 1989, Henry County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother DAVIS, Mildred,   b. 1909, Kennard, Henry County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Aug 1949, New Castle, Henry, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 40 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Married 02 Sep 1940  Madison County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F463  Group Sheet

    Father GIVENS, Willis Albert,   b. 08 Apr 1904, Near Noblesville, Madison County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 03 Mar 1989, Henry County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother SLOUGH, Elsie,   b. Abt 1906, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jun 1965, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 59 years) 
    Relationship Step 
    Married 1950 
    Family ID F464  Group Sheet

    Family WHITAKER, Charlene Kay,   b. 06 Oct 1947, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2006, Noblesville, Hamilton, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years) 
    Married 19 Jun 1969 
    Children 
     1. Living
    Last Modified 23 Jun 2015 
    Family ID F557  Group Sheet

  • Notes 
    • Worked for the Noblesville Police Department before he retired due to ill health. As of 3/7/2000 was working for his wife in pollution control/clean water.

      NOBLESVILLE -- Former Noblesville Police officer Ralph Givens, who had played Santa on the Square for the past seven years, was found dead today in his home at Westbrook Village.

      Noblesville Police Lt. Bruce Barnes said Givens, 61, died of natural causes.

      Two or three day shift officers found Givens when they went to check on him after no one had heard from Givens in a couple of days, said Barnes.

      "He was retired before I arrived (in 1993), and I never heard a bad word about him," Barnes said.

      Personnel records were not available this evening, but Barnes said officers believe Givens was on the force 16 or 17 years, beginning in the early 1970s. He took a medical retirement, according to Barnes.

      Givens was one of Lt. Tony Craig's field training officers, and the two had remained close.

      "Ralph was an absolutely super individual," said Craig, who was among the officers called to Givens' home.

      Lori Schwartz, Noblesville, co-owner of Schwartz's Bait & Tackle, got to know Givens when he was a police officer. After his shifts, she said, Givens would often grab a cup of coffee and go fishing on the river from her store.

      "He loved to fish," she said.

      "It was such a shock" to hear of Givens' death, said Schwartz, calling him a wonderful person. "I can't believe he's gone. I just saw him last week."

      Schwartz said Givens would volunteer to play Santa for anybody who requested, although he had told her his health likely would keep him from playing the role this year.

      "To me, it's more than a job. It's the spirit and the kids. I look forward to this every year," Givens said in 2003.

      He shared the Santa role with Don Roberts, 71, Noblesville.

      "He was a good police officer; he served Noblesville very well, and he was an excellent Santa," said Roberts.

      The two had a little competition going on, he said, trying to see who could hold the newest-born baby. One time Givens got a couple coming home from the hospital. "I couldn't compete with that," said Roberts. "We had a lot of fun doing that."

      Funeral arrangements were not available at press time
      ____
      August 16, 2008
      Ralph Givens 61, Noblesville, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at home. He was born September 12, 1946 in New Castle, Indiana. Ralph worked for the Noblesville Police Department from August 1, 1974 - July 15, 1989. He was a retired member of the Fraternal Order of Police; and had played Santa on the square in Noblesville for seven years. He is survived by his daughter, Maria Givens of Tempe, AZ. He is preceded in death by his wife, Charlene Kay Givens who passed away in 2006. He and Charlene had been married for 36 years. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 18, 2008 at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home in Noblesville, with Pastor Steve Martin officiating. Friends may call Sunday, August 17, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, 6415 Castleway West Drive, Suite 114, Indianapolis, IN 46250.

  • Sources 
    1. [S196] Obituary.