Richard Gallagher

WASHINGTON --Richard Gallagher, 62, died March 15, 2008, after a long and courageous fight with cancer.

He was born Aug. 14, 1945, in New York City. He lived in Hillsborough until 1963, when he joined the U.S. Army Engineers. He retired from Fort Belvoir, Va., in 1985 with the rank of chief warrant officer.

He served in Vietnam, France, Germany and several locations in America.

He attended Hillsborough- Deering High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Maryland.

He was a member and deacon of the East Washington Baptist Church.

IN HIS LIFE: Mr. Gallagher was a member of the Washington Volunteer Fire Department; American Legion Post 59, Hillsborough; the Veteran of Foreign Wars; Military Offices Association; The National Rifle Association; and was a volunteer at BSA Troop 118 Fort Belvoir.

In addition, he was a road agent for the town of Washington and worked for Valley Transportation as fleet mechanic and school bus driver. He was a substitute teacher at Hillsborough- Deering elementary, middle and high schools.

He was predeceased by his mother Ora Gallagher of Hillsborough; his father, Roy Gallagher of Amarillo, Texas; a brother, Roy Gallagher Jr. of Pinellas Park, Fla.; and a sister, Rose Marie Hunt of Tampa, Fla.

The family includes his wife of 41 years, Beth Blakney Gallagher of East Washington; a daughter, Marybeth Walker of Rochester; two sons, Richard Gallagher II of Elkton,Va., and Stephen Gallagher of Portsmouth; eight grandchildren; two sisters, Maryann Taylor of St Petersburg, Fla., and Margaret Totte of Hillsborough.

SERVICES: A viewing is from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the East Washington Baptist Church, 2234 East Washington Road, Washington. A funeral service is at 3 p.m.

Private burial will be at a later date.

Donations may be made to the East Washington Baptist Church, Purlingbeck Hall Building Fund, 2234 East Washington Road, Washington 03280; or to the Washington Rescue Squad, 7 Half Moon Pond Road, Washington 03280.

Arrangements are handled by Chadwick Funeral Service of New London. Go to www.chadwickfuneralservice.com for more information.