GIVENS, Ralph Arthur

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
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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.

Ralph married WHITAKER, Charlene Kay 19 Jun 1969. Charlene was born 06 Oct 1947, Indiana; died 2006, Noblesville, Hamilton, Indiana, USA; was buried Hamilton Memorial Cemetery, Hamilton County, Indiana. [Group Sheet]