He was born on May 13, 1927 in Mexico, Missouri to Ralph and Mary Foreman Gallop. Russ attended Mexico High School where he lettered four years in basketball and football. After completing high school, he joined the United States Navy where he served a year in the Pacific theater. After being discharged, he attended Culver Stockton College where he lettered in football for two years and majored in Business Administration.
Russ retired from A.P. Services after more than 38 years in 1989. During his career, he designed kiln installation systems that became the most fuel efficient in the United States and he helped pioneer the development of A.P. Green plastic gunning. In 1977, he moved his family to Birmingham, Alabama where he became the Regional Construction Manager and was responsible for A.P. Green installation offices in Birmingham, Mobile, Louisiana and Cincinnati. After retirement, and under the company name GARECO Services, he continued to do refractory consulting and advisory work for the refractory installation service in the United States, Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and St. Croix and for Struthers Wells Corporation.
Russ enjoyed many hobbies such as golf, miniature home collecting, woodworking, wine making, and fishing. While in his 60’s he achieved his Master scuba diving certification and would go on many dive trips down to the Caribbean.
Preceding him in death are his daughter, Lisa Leigh Gallop; his parents Ralph Gallop and Mary Foreman Gallop; and his sister, Margie Gallop. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife, Melba Jane Scott Gallop; his two children, David Gallop (Karen) and Becky King (Larry); six grandchildren, Amanda Perry (Mat), Tyler King (Alexandra), Rachel Phelps, Shane Phelps (Crista), Scot Gallop (Anneke), and Nathan Gallop (Tami); and eight great-grandchildren, Lincoln Perry, Hudson King, Aidan & Liam Phelps, Valin Gallop, Elliott Riley, Cayden & Lorelai Gallop.
Visitation will be held at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, from 1 pm to 2 pm, with a funeral service beginning at 2:00 pm. Burial with military honors will follow at Southern Heritage Cemetery.
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