Robert Francis Gallagher

Robert Francis Gallagher (Bobby) was born on Sept. 3, 1928, along with his twin brother William (Billy) Angus in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born of immigrant parents: Peter Joseph Gallagher of Cloonacool, Sligo, Ireland, and Agnes Andersen Aabo of Eidskog, Hedemark, Norway. He had two older half-siblings: Joseph Allen Gallagher and Camille Jane Gallagher David.

Robert’s family moved to El Sereno, California at age six and where he lived until adulthood.

At age seventeen, he and Billy joined the Navy in WWII, with their father’s permission. Robert passed the Navy tests with flying colors and was chosen to attend a special training in Maryland to become a cryptologist. He served on the Aircraft Carrier Antietam in the Pacific as a Morse Code operator.

Robert, or Bob, saw action in Tsing Tao, China when he joined a battalion of marines as their radio man, carrying the heavy radio on his back. He experienced hand to hand combat, and this is where he was wounded from a grenade and earned a purple heart. He was sent back to San Diego for surgery and recovery, before rejoining his ship. X-rays reveal that he still has shrapnel in his chest. He suffered greatly from PTSD his entire life, with all the associated problems that disease entails.

Bob got the G.I. Bill and attended BYU, Provo where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree, He met Joan Shirley Greer there and they married in the Salt Lake Temple. Kim Agnes was born and they moved to Price, Utah for a time. Soon, they moved to Berkeley, California where Bob earned a Master’s Degree, on scholarship. The family settled in Orem, Utah and four children were welcomed to their family: Craig, Lori, Shawn (twin) and Eric (twin).

Bob had several occupations including: Mental Health Specialist for the State of Utah, Professor for Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Utah, Social Worker and Recreational Therapy consultant for nursing homes with his company Bob Gallagher and Associates. He was also a stock broker.

Bob served a mission for the LDS church in the Eastern States Mission, and after Church inactivity for many years, he returned to full fellowship with the Saints. He served as the executive secretary to the Canyon Rim Care Center Branch Presidents.

Bob has always had a love of God, and a love of his fellow man. He especially loved to help the underdog. He wrote beautiful poetry, winning many contests. And he loved his cats and chickens. But his greatest love was the sport of fishing. It was said that he could catch a fish out of a mud puddle.

Survivors include: Kim Agnes (Paul Blanchard), Craig Robert (Leslie), Lori Suzanne (Leon Bird), Shawn Carr (Ann), Eric Russell (Lisa). He has twenty grandchildren. He is survived by everyone except his ex-wife, Joan.

The Gallagher family would like to thank all of those medical professionals and friends who assisted our father in his declining months. And thank you to all his family and friends for their love and support over the years.