Born in the Houston Heights on April 13, 1923, Hank graduated from Austin High in 1940. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1942, graduated from pilot training and flew 57 bombing missions over Italy, Austria, and Yugoslavia. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service, among many others. He served in the Air Force Reserve after World War II and eventually rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel.
After the war, Hank married Nellie May McManus, who at five, he chased around the church play yard. He enrolled at the University of Texas and graduated in 1948 with a B.S. in Geology. He worked in the field of exploration for 30 years with Continental Oil Company, “Conoco.” Later, he sold heavy cranes and equipment and then was part owner of Markload Systems in Pearland, TX until he sold his interest in the firm in 1984.
He was a proud member of the 57th Bomb Wing Association and traveled extensively through the years with his military brethren and their spouses. Hank and Nellie loved to visit faraway places, enjoying 17 cruises and a trip around the world on the Concord. A handful of his many hobbies and interests included partaking in the Toastmasters Club, snow skiing and boating and skiing on Galveston Bay with family and friends.
Hank and Nellie have been longtime members of the Young at Heart senior group at Covenant of Faith United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, and they are members of First United Methodist Church in Pearland, Texas.
Hank was preceded in death by his parents, Gerhard Henry Galny, Sr. and Olive Ramsey Galny Anderson (better known as “Bee”), his sister, Velma Eileen Galny Whitaker, his brother-in-law, Thomas Nelson Whitaker, and his son, Roy Kenneth Galny.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Nellie McManus Galny. Hank is also survived by his daughter, Fay Galny Farkas, son-in-law, George Paul Farkas, his son, Robert Nelson Galny, and daughters-in-law, Diane Petok Galny and Michele Spilsbury Galny; granddaughters Sheri Galny Thomas and husband, Jesse; Crystal Galny Zwerneman and husband, Brent; Tanya Galny Smalling and husband, David; grandson, Austin Reed Galny and fiancé, Alana Searleman; granddaughter Shelby Lee Galny; great-grandchildren, Emma and Micah Thomas; Will, Zoe, and Brady Zwerneman; Trey and Jack Smalling; as well as cherished nieces and nephews, along with their children and grandchildren.
In his later years, Hank was loved and cared for by his beloved caregivers Tibe, Elsa, Mahittible, Willie, and Sesen.
Visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church, 2314 Grand Blvd, Pearland, TX 77581, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2017, followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. The graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale St., Houston, TX 77023.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Hank Galny may be made to First United Methodist of Pearland.
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