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 425 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Southern Pines NC 28387 Locally 910-692-6262 Toll-Free 1-800-972-7340 | Captain Joseph Gallagher Captain Joseph Gallagher, US Navy (Retired), died peacefully at his home in Southern Pines, NC, surrounded by his family, following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 90 years old. Captain Gallagher was born on June 4, 1921 in Blackstone, MA to the late Eugene Gallagher and Christina Riley Gallagher. Upon graduation from high school, he was selected for service as a Naval Aviator. He served his country as a pilot of fighter-attach aircraft, flying off aircraft carriers in three wars – World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He earned a host of personal and service awards during his distinguished, 35-year naval career, including seven awards of the Vietnam Service Medal for multiple deployments as a pilot and Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron 196 and of the US Naval Air Station in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He attended Brown University between World War II and Korea and graduated from the University of Mississippi. A devoted church and community member, Captain Gallagher is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth O’Keefe Gallagher, five daughters: Mary-Ellen Sheppard and husband William of Fairhaven, MA, Ruth Iverson and husband Kristen of Burke, VA, Colleen Sheppard and husband Robert of Arlington, VA, Maureen Dyer and husband Michael of McLean, VA; Eileen Brigid Pope and husband Wesley of Charlotte, NC, one son, Timothy Gallagher and wife Virginia of Southern Pines, NC, one brother, James Gallagher of Warwick, RI, two sisters, Tina O’Neill of Warwick, RI, Peggy Sheriden of Cape Cod, MA and 17 grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters: Anna Falvey, Gina McMahon and Mary Gallagher, four brothers, Charles Gallagher, John Gallagher, Tom Gallagher, Edward Gallagher, and his granddaughter, Brigid Sheppard. A funeral mass will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Southern Pines on Saturday, the 18th of February at 11:00AM, with Msgr. Jeffrey Ingham and Captain Gallagher’s nephew, Father James Gallagher officiating. The family will receive friends at Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst, from 6-8 PM Friday, February 17, 2012. Burial with full military honors and a service at the Fort Myers Chapel will take place at Arlington Cemetery at a later date. Leave a Note of Remembrance |
Boles Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. | 425 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Southern Pines, NC 28387 | 910-692-6262 |
February 16th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Tim,
I was so sorry to hear about your father.
I have and will continue to be praying for you and your family.
Regina
February 16th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
May the Capatian ride the beautiful skyes of heaven.
To my boys, Uncle Joe will always be remebered as the quarter man. When ever he took pictures of children, he would make them stand on a quarter so they would stand still.
I have heard many stories of how much of a great brother he was.
God has a special place for him.
Blessing to TU TU and the rest of the gang.
Pat and Donna Gallagher
February 16th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Rest In Peace Uncle Joe. We love you.
Chris & Mandi
February 16th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
May you feel God’s loving arms around you at this time of sorrow. Captain Gallagher was an honorable man that held the highest respect of those that knew him. You are all in our thoughts and prayers as you say goodbye.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Dear Aunt Ruthie & Family,
Uncle Joe will surely be missed. We have such fun memories of spending time in Newport with all of you & piling into the Volkswagon!! We are sorry we could not be with you at this time, you are in our prayers always. Uncle Joe’s strength will always be with the Gallagher family.
Love, Ann & Carl Brown (O’Neil)
February 17th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Aunt Ruthie and family,
Wish we could be with at this time of sorrow, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Memory of Uncle Joe
always got my name right!
Love Ann and Roger Lafayette (Gallagher)
February 17th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Dear Aunt Ruthie & Family:
Such wonderful memories of Uncle Joe. I will never forget Mom surprising us by coming to St. Matthew’s School when I was in the 5th Grade with Uncle Joe in full uniform. Needless to say, he was quite a hit with everyone, especially the Nuns! So many fun times in the Newport years and the fun vacations in McLean. A fine life lived by an incredible man. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Love,
Peg (O’Neil) Rose
February 17th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Dear Tutu,
You and Papa and the Family hold a special place in my mom’s and my heart. We love you all and will miss Papa he was truly a special man and we were Blessed to know him. He is in Heaven now watching over the family totally healed. Sending Hugs and Prayers to all.
Mary and Gloria Williams
February 17th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Dear Gallagher Family: I wanted to send my deepest and sincere condolences during this unfortunate time in your lives, but I also wanted to share with your family a comforting promise that God gives in his Word the Bible about the possibility of us seeing our dead loved ones again, it’s found at John 5:28,29 which in part reads:”Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life,”. Your family will be in my prayers, my sincere condolences.
February 17th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Dear Aunt Ruthie and family, My deepest sympathy in the loss of uncle Joe. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. What a great time we had last year visiting all of you, uncle Joes stories will stay with me forever. God Bless.
Love, Kristen J Gallagher
February 17th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
Dear Ruthie and Family,I was sadened to see JOE’S NOTICE IN TODAY’S JOURNAL,IT WAS ONLY A WEEK A SO AGO i WAS LOOKING AT OLD PHOTOS OF YOU AND JOE,MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND THE FAMILY.MARY OLIVE
February 18th, 2012 at 9:57 am
Dear Aunt Ruthie and Family,
We are so sorry for you loss. I first met Uncle Joe when I was 9 years old. I loved talking to him and I have bragged about him ever since. He lived a great life. May God bless you and your family.
Gary Gauthier (Tom’s grandson)
February 18th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Dear Aunt Ruthie & Family,
Forgive me if I personalize too much! My memories of uncle Joe are of a visiting hero, coming back to the humble beginnings of his life in Blackstone, MA. My Dad and Mom told us that he was a war hero, a beloved brother to my wonderful Dad, Tom and so many great things to our vast and loving family. At the last family reunion I was able to attend, Joe told us wonderful stories that I will always treasure. Everybody loved him.
So now, Uncle Joe walks with God and all of his Brothers and Sisters who have passed.
I wish I could have been there to celerate his final trip Home to Heaven.
God Bless you Aunt Ruthie and Family and all who loved him.
Barbara Gallagher Hufstedler
February 19th, 2012 at 10:15 am
Aunt Ruthie & all my cousins I am so sorry to hear about Uncle Joe, He was a wonderful man. You are in my prayers. Love Patsy
February 19th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Ruth, I’m at a loss for words. Words to express my feelings and condolences.
But,I did want to share with you a strange happening. This morning I found a small bag of Planters’ Peanuts in my shoe a quarter fell from behind my ear.
Much love,
John
February 19th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
February 19, 2012
Dear Ruth,
I graduated from LaSalle Academy in Providence with Joe in 1942. He was an outstanding member of our very large class that year. I remembered that he was then courting lovely Ruth O’Keefe and I have a picture of the two of you at one of our LaSalle Dances which is recorded in the 1942 year book. I shall offer Mass tomorrow morning for Joe. My sincerest sympathy to you and to your large family on your loss of Him. May Jesus and his holy Mother Mary comfort all of you who are grieving for him. And may he now rest in peace.
Sincerely
Fr. Bob O’Donnell, C.S.P.
415 West 59th Street
New York, N.Y. 10019
February 20th, 2012 at 10:23 am
To Mell-Colleen,Sorry to hear about the loss of your father.Will continue too pray for you and your mother and the rest of your family.
February 20th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Dad;
I know you are with Jesus and I am so happy for you. I will always remember the wonderful times we shared as Father-Daughter.
I will miss you and I will help Mom out as best as I can.
I love you and see you soon.
Love Ru
February 20th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Dear Aunt Ruthie and cousins. I am so sorry for your loss. It is a sad time for a great man has passed. I am sure my DAD is glad to see him up there with him. May they all rejoice and watch upon us. Mary(Tom’s oldest daughter}
February 20th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Dear Aunt Ruthy and Family,
Eventhough there are many miles seperating us, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Uncle Joe had a GREAT influence in my life. He was MY roll model. There are too many items to list here, but what is important is that he was loved by the entire family. He is now flying with the angles.
God Bless you all.
Tom Gallagher (Chief, USN Retired)
February 24th, 2012 at 10:12 am
Quarter to stand on, or one from the ear, three squeezes of the hand. The song,”Their is a Summer Place”. Shareing Girl talk at night.Newport Mclean, Tyson”s cornor, Fort Adams. Big Hugs.A Hero to Many, and A Big Piece of Heaven. Thank you to his children and to Aunt Ruthy for shareing him with me.May we as family always remember what he wanted us to have, Family bond. Was that not the reason he has the wall taken down in the house at Fort Adams. Thank you for a Great part of life, that many have never experianced
February 24th, 2012 at 10:23 am
Quarter to stand on, or one from the ear, three squeezes of the hand. The song “Their is a Summerplace. Shareing Girl talk at night. Newport, McLean, Tyson’s cornor,Fort Adams. Big Hugs, A Hero to many, and A BIG Piece O Heaven Thank you to his children and to Aunt Ruthy for shareing hime with me. May we as a family always remember what he wanted us to have, FAMILY BOND” Was that not the reason he had the wall taken down in the house at Fort Adams. Thank you for the Great part of life that many people have never experianced
February 24th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
I was lucky enough to live across the street from “Papa” my whole life, really until I was married in 2000. Papa became the Grandfather I never had. He always had the most amazing Joy about him. His love for children and animals was amazing. He always made me feel special and loved. When I was 7 I told him I was moving in with them! I will always hold a very special place in my heart for Papa. One of the most kind, loving people I have ever known. I know exactly where he is now. Love and prayers to all the family,
Kerry