Raymond Gallaher

GALLAHER

Raymond Anthony Gallaher, age 87, passed away quietly on Sunday morning, January 31, 2016 at home in Westerville, OH. He was born on May 6, 1928 in St. Louis, MO to William R. and Bertha Clara Vogel Gallaher. His mother died when Raymond was five years old and his father re-married Ora Gallaher. Ray spent his life regarding Ora as his mother. Raymond (Ray) grew up in St. Louis, MO, where he graduated from Maplewood High School and attended St. Louis University, graduating with Magna cum laude honors, with a Bachelor Degree in Business. Ray later graduated from DePaul University Graduate School of Business (Chicago) with a Master of Commerce degree. Ray was drafted and joined the US Army toward the end of WWII and went through basic training at Ft. Benning, GA and was later stationed in Germany. Ray was a quiet and unassuming man by nature, possessing a great sense of humor and always a smile on his face. He spent his career as an Industrial Relations executive with The BF Goodrich Company (Akron, OH) and Imperial Chemical Industries Americas (Wilmington, DE). Ray was President of several national professional associations / organizations and spent time as a visiting Professor / Lecturer at Univ. of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business. He was a member of Mensa. He retired early in 1979 and moved with his wife to Cape May, NJ and Punta Gorda, FL to follow his life-long love of the ocean. Ray married Sarah (Suzi) Catherine Kallbrier in October, 1950 in St. Louis, MO. They were happily married for 65 years. His hobbies included painting, drawing, but the primary focus of his life was to provide an atmosphere in which his family and children could flourish. His goal was to expose his kids to as many different places and things as possible to enable them to find their calling in life. Ray also was a very skilled do-it-yourselfer. With his own two hands, he could design and build anything. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, William R. Gallaher (father) Bertha Clara Gallaher (mother), Ora Gallaher (step-mother) and Florence Jane Elder (sister). Ray is survived by his spouse Sarah (Suzi) of Westerville, OH; his sons Scott W. Gallaher of Columbus, OH, James E. Gallaher of Atlanta, GA and daughter Linda (Jerry) M. Gallaher of Houston, TX;. grandchildren Michael Gallaher of Columbus, OH, Megan Gallaher of Akron, OH and Sarah Walter, Daniel Walter and William Walter of Houston, TX; brother, Warren (Jane) Gallaher of St. Louis, MO; many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the MORELAND FUNERAL HOME, 55 East Schrock Road, Westerville, OH 43081 from Noon – 2 p.m., Friday February 5, 2016 followed by a service at 2 p.m., Dr. David Hogg, officiating. Burial will follow at Blendon Central Cemetery.