Peggy Galvin

Margaret Edna Gillespie Galvin, 95, of Dallas, passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2017, from complications due to a stroke. Peggy was born on March 27, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY to Edward Gillespie and Katherine Gildea Gillespie. She graduated from Bay Ridge High School and worked her way through Brooklyn College where she received her Bachelor of Arts.

Peggy worked at Time magazine in the personnel department until she joined the US Navy in 1944. She was a Lt. (jg) in the US Navy Supply Corps working for the Commander of the base in Bayonne, NJ. One day a tall Texan, Lieutenant Commander Charles O. Galvin of Dallas, reported for duty. And as Charley liked to say, “I’ve been reporting to her ever since.”

Peggy and Charley married on June 29, 1946, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. After their honorable discharges from the US Navy, the couple moved to Evanston IL, where Peggy earned her Master of Arts from Northwestern University.

After completing their degrees, Peggy and Charley moved to Dallas in 1947. Charley began his long illustrious career in law and joined the faculty of the SMU School of Law. They welcomed their first child, Katherine Marie, in 1948. She was followed by George Patrick in 1951, Paul Edward in 1953, Charles O’Neill, Jr. in 1955, and Elizabeth Genevieve in 1959. The children were educated in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Dallas, and graduated from Ursuline Academy and Jesuit College Prepatory.

Being the wife of the Dean of the SMU Law School and the mother of five children kept Peggy busy. But as a good servant of the Lord she found the time to be “of service to others” in the Catholic tradition. She was president of the Board of Education of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas and a recipient of the Bishop Tschoepe Award. She was a board member of Catholic Charities of Dallas, and was a founder of the Angels of Charity. Peggy also served as a board member of Goodwill Industries, Family Guidance Center, the Women’s Council of Dallas County, and Notre Dame School of Dallas. She was a past president of the Christ the King Mother’s Club and the SMU University Woman’s Club. She was a member of the Dallas Lawyers’ Wives Club, the League of Women Voters, and the Dallas Woman’s Club. She also volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and for United Way. And she recorded audiobooks for the blind.

Peggy was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church and was a Lady Commander with Star, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. In 1998, Peggy and Charley were the recipients of the Monsignor McGill Award from the Catholic Foundation of Dallas for their service to church and community.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; George, Katherine, Mary, Eleanor, and Dorothy. She was also preceded by her beloved husband of 65 years, Charles O. Galvin. She is survived by her daughter Kathy of Albany, CA, her son Pat (Amy) of St. Louis, MO, son Paul (Diane) of Dallas, son Charlie of Austin, TX and daughter Liz of Austin, TX. Nine grandchildren: Molly, Elizabeth, Ford (Kristin), George (Celia), Alicia Smith (Steven), Claire, Kelly, David (Anna), and Sam. And one great-granddaughter, Ellie Grace. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, friends, associates, admirers, and bridge partners.

Peggy was a five foot force to be reckoned with. She was keenly intelligent, kind-hearted, compassionate, generous, and a lot of fun. She was well travelled having stepped on the soil of all seven continents, including a trip to her father’s native Donegal, Ireland. She had a glorious and delightful sense of humor, and we will all desperately miss our sweet Irish Rose.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Medical City of Dallas. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 25th from 4-6 p.m. at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225. Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 26th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church, 12521 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX, 75244. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Charles and Peggy Galvin Endowment Fund at the SMU Dedman School of Law, 3315 Daniel Ave., Dallas, TX, 75205, or to the Notre Dame School of Dallas, 2018 Allen St, Dallas, TX, 75204.

“May you be in Heaven thirty minutes before the devil knows you’re dead”.