Grace Dorey Gallagher

GALLAGHER, Grace Dorey, died peacefully in her home on September 5, 2008 after a courageous and inspiring battle with cancer. A lifelong Virginian, she was born in Richmond on what is now known as Dorey Park in Henrico County. She graduated from Varina High School and Richmond Professional Institute (RPI) with a Bachelors of Science degree. A 30-year resident of Virginia Beach, she was a physical education and science teacher for 33 years in Norfolk Public Middle Schools. In retirement, she was active in and was past president of Retired Officers Wives Club (ROWS), as well as an active member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). She enjoyed the many bridge parties and social events through the years. She also was president for a term of the local chapter and was active nationally in the Association of Parliamentarians. She was an enthusiastic member of the Town and Gown Club and the Republican Party. She was preceded in death by her husband of 23 years, Commander Lawrence E. Gallagher; and her brother, Frank Dorey of Alabama. She is survived by her first husband, Byron W. Graves Jr. of Windsor Shades and Norfolk; her three children, Dr. Anne Graves and her husband, John Forren, and their daughter, Grace, of San Diego, Calif., B. Wesley Graves III and his wife, Donna, and his sons, Byron and Kevin, of Virginia Beach and Ashland and Dr. John Lee Graves and his wife, Penny, and their children, Lee and Annalise of Greensboro, N.C.; her siblings, Virginia Pausch of Maryland, Mary Widmer of St. Louis, Dr. Fred O. Dorey Jr. of New Jersey and Florida and Dr. Lee R. Dorey of Kansas. She is also survived by her devoted gentleman friend, James M. Dellaripa Sr. of Norfolk. A beautiful and strong woman who was known by her students as demanding and her family as generous, she will be deeply missed and never forgotten. She will be interned with her late husband Larry in Arlington National Cemetery on October 10 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Cancer Care Foundation of Tidewater, Attention Acts of Kindness at Lake Wright, P.O. Box 12693, Norfolk, Va. 23541. A funeral service will be held at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Lynnhaven Chapel, on Friday, September 12 at 11 a.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.