Robert W. Gallion

Robert Warren Gallion, 90, went to join his departed wife on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2011 from the Critical Care Unit of Memorial Hospital. He was born December 22, 1920 in Arapaho, Oklahoma to Fred and Ottie (Peck) Gallion the youngest of 7 surviving children. During the mid 1920’s his family moved to Riverside, California and then to St. Helena, California in the Napa Valley. During high school, he was twice elected as student body president and graduated from St. Helena Union High School in 1939 with a scholarship to go the University of California, Berkeley to become a chemical engineer.

World War II interrupted his studies and he joined the US Army in March 1943 and became part of the 27th Division to take part in the invasion of Saipan. He was wounded while sitting on the edge of his foxhole talking to a friend when the Japanese opened up with heavy mortar fire. He felt a burning sensation in his ankle and later said if he had been completely in the foxhole, he would have been buried in Saipan. He spent the rest of the war in hospitals and still has the Purple Heart and the piece of shrapnel from his ankle.

After the war he went back to the University of California studying Agriculture at Berkeley, and graduating in 1947. He then took graduate courses at the University of California at Davis and also the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo.

He went to work as a teacher at Tracy High School where he met and later married Margarett Danner on June 9, 1951. He became a step father to her two sons James and George Steven Danner and he and Margarett had two sons, Stuart and Rob.

After the marriage, he started working for Libby, McNeill and Libby in the field department. This moved the family several times in California finally ending up in Selah, WA in 1966 where he headed the Yakima field department. In each home, Robert and Margarett had large gardens and fruit trees and gave away surplus harvests to friends and neighbors for years. He took meticulous records of the garden and daily temperatures for years and also kept a journal until recently when his handwriting deteriorated. He enjoyed reading mysteries and Louis L’Amour westerns and watching old movies especially those from 1939. Stray dogs, cats and other animals coming to the house were always fed and provided with water.

When Libby’s ended production in the 1980’s he retired but worked during pear season for Northwest Packing keeping track of the storages. He made many friends during his working life at various warehouses throughout Washington.

During the off season, Bob and Margarett traveled around the country in their RV visiting friends and relatives. He made it a point to visit his birthplace of Arapaho, Oklahoma and also Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas where he took his basic training. He and Margarett were also members of the Wenas Gap Sailing and Tennis club where they took trips to the San Juan Islands each year and spent time visiting these friends.

Bob grew up as a Seventh Day Adventist and later became a member of the Peace Lutheran Church and was baptized there Sept 2, 2003.

Bob is survived by Jim (Susan) Danner, George Steven (Naomi) Danner, Stuart Gallion, and Rob Gallion. He is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Kendall, Catherine (Shaun) and Matt, and 5 great grandchildren Chelsea, Travis, Samantha, Rebecca and Emily. In addition he is survived by the spouses of his siblings (Von and Marianne) as well as many nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death last month by his wife Margarett. He was also preceded in death by his parents Fred and Ottie, and all his brothers and sisters: Ted, Evelyn, Ann, Dave, Joe, and Margaret.

The family again wishes to express their appreciation to Mary Van Dewall and Cheryl Bruner from Senior Life Resources for taking excellent care of both Margarett and Bob. We only wished the good relationship could have lasted a while longer.

Rememberances may be made in Robert’s name to the Yakima Greenway or to the American Diabetes Association.