Jean was born on July 19, 1926, in Alexandria, Virginia to Hubert and Nora (nee Wortman) Poulsen. She married her childhood sweetheart Claude Gallahan on December 10, 1945, in Rockville, Maryland. They were married for 53 years and had seven children, eleven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. Claude passed away in 1998.
Jean is remembered as the primary caregiver for her husband as well as for her father-in-law, Will Gallahan, mother-in-law, Ada Gallahan, her mother, Nora Poulsen, and her favorite aunt, Emma McCaffrey. Jean never tired of talking about growing up in Alexandria and was especially fond of her parent’s hometown of Round Hill, Virginia, where the town park is named for the Poulsen family. She enjoyed bowling with family and friends and was an avid walker. Weekends found her antique and craft shopping with daughters and daughter in laws.
Jean is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, John (Sonny) and Wendell; her beloved granddaughter, Dawn Gallahan Fetterolf; and her great grandson, Tyler Trumble. Her memory lives on through her seven children, Gail Trumble (Bobby), Brenda Omearns (Jim), Gordon Gallahan (Pam), Gary (Moe) Gallahan (Wanda), Tommy Gallahan (Linda), Cathy Gallahan (Martin) and Randy Gallahan. Jean will be deeply missed, but her legacy will live on in the hearts and memories of all who knew and loved her.
