Ernest Lathon Gallahan

Ernest, 92, left this earth to be with his beloved wife on Friday, August 12,2016 at Hughes Home, Fredericksburg. VA. He was born in 1924 at the family home in Garrisonville, VA, to Rosser and Maggie Gallahan. He was raised at the home by his Uncle Donnie and lived there until he was 90.

Ernest served in the Marine Corps and was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to go hunting and was an expert marksman. The family always joked that he could shoot the eye out of a gnat! He also loved to speed through the woods on his ATV. He was an accomplished musician, self taught on the guitar, banjo, harmonica, and the mouth harp. As a young man, he played with fellow musicians at a local radio station.

Ernest is survived by his three daughters, Janet Hilton (Wes), Linda Durrance (Terry) both of Garrisonville, and Kathy Hall of Arvada, CO; three grandchildren, Laurie Durrance (Kevin Saunders) of Fredericksburg, Donnie Durrance (Shayna) of Portsmouth, and Amy Martin of Quantico; four step grandchildren Kellie Hall and Chad Hall of Colorado, and Natalie Rand (Kenny) and Dwayne Hilton of King George; two great grandchildren Lauryn and Logan Durrance of Portsmouth, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife Edith of 54 years, his parents Rosser and Maggie; his beloved Uncle Donnie, sisters Mamie and Lena; and brothers Airy and Chester.

The family will receive friends at Mullins & Thompson, Stafford Chapel at 10:00 am Friday, August 19, 2016, prior to service. Burial will be at Ebenezer Church cemetery on Onville Road, Garrisonville. A reception will follow at Vinny's Italian Grill, 397 Garrisonville Rd. The family requests that condolences be in the form of a donation to a Local Alzheimers chapter.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Hughes Home and MWH Hospice for their loving care of our Papa.

"Daddy, we hope you are now with our beloved Nanny and that you both are young, healthy, and happy. Until we meet again, we are loving and missing you. Your Girls and the Family"

Condolences may be sent to mullinsthompsonstafford.com