Phillip Michael Gallo

Phillip Michael Gallo, 74, of Chattanooga, passed away on Monday, June 3, 2019. Born and raised in Queens and Brooklyn, NY, Phil graduated from Woodrow Wilson Vocational High School in 1962. Phil proudly served his country for 4.5 years in the US Army. After completing basic training at Fort Dix, NJ, he then trained at Fort Benning, GA in the 38th Infantry, 11th Air Assault division, 1963-1964. Phil was then sent to Ft. Devens, MA, as part of the 2nd Infantry Division. From Ft. Devens, he was sent to San Francisco to board the USS Patrick, and headed to Inchon, S. Korea. About a month after he arrived, he was assigned to be an NCO Aide, Driver and Body Guard to General Robert C. Gildart, Jr. at Osan, as part of the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. He was promoted to Sergeant, E-5, and sent to Vietnam for a month, returning to Osan. From there, he returned to the United States and was assigned to the 18th Artillery Group/ARADCOM in Oakdale, PA. After his discharge in 1967, Phil sold insurance until he landed a job with Eastern Airlines in NY. He was quickly transferred to Miami, FL, becoming a commercial pilot. He obtained his Masters Degree at Barry University in Miami. When Eastern Airlines went bankrupt, he started his own aviation company, and sold aviation equipment, and trained pilots all over the world, including Egypt, South America, and the Dominican Republic. He sold the aviation company and started a Photo Marker business, which took him to Spartanburg, SC. He sold the Photo Marker business, and went into the Automotive sales industry as a sales manager and general manager in Spartanburg. When his health began to drastically decline, he went to Palm Coast. FL, where his future bride caught up to him, bringing him to the Chattanooga, TN area. They were wed on April 6th, 2002. Surviving are his wife, Susan Gallo; daughter AnnMarie Gallo (Jeff Drubych); son Jerry Gallo (Gina); grandchildren Tyler, Bradley, Racquel and Matthew; sisters Marie (Jimmy) Persise, Annie Gallo and Irene (Steve) Takausian; nieces Courtney (Scott) Kulley, Taylor Rose Takausian, Marie Helena Gallo-Edwards (Colin) and Lisa Nieds (David) and their son Matthew; nephews Steven Takausian, Jerry Simshauser and Joseph Valela (Carla), their daughter Brianna (Chris) Gonzalez, their daughter Eleia; and his two feline companions Cosmo and Lola Belle. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerard and Anna Gallo; and brother, John Gallo. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 PM on Sunday and 10:30 to 11:30 AM on Monday at the funeral home. A Memorial Service will be at 11:30 AM on Monday, June 10, 2019 at the funeral home with Rev. Dwight Kilbourne officiating. Inurnment will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans at https://secure.dav.org Arrangements are by the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37421. Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chattanoogavalleyviewchapel.com.