GÖKALP was born in 1955 in Edirne, and graduated from Edirne High School in 1972. Starting in 1973, he worked as a tax officer, income chief, and assistant manager respectively in the Ministry of Finance. He graduated from Anadolu University, Department of Business Administration. He retired from the Istanbul revenue office tax office, as deputy director in 1998. He won first prizes in the First Patchwork Competition organized by Bursa Orhan Foundation and the Second Patchwork Competition in Çanakkale Ilyada. He still continues to produce patchwork in Edirne, and is a member of the board of directors of Edirne Culture Promotion Association (EKTADER) and gives lectures.