Wilbur J. "Bill" Gallagher

Wilbur “Bill” Gallagher passed from this Earth peacefully on the evening of September 3rd, 2022, in Royersford, PA, after a brief illness.

Born in Hanover, PA, in 1932, Bill was the youngest of nine siblings of Benjamin Franklin Gallagher, Sr. and Grace Wetzel Gallagher. He worked on the family farm from an early age and enlisted in the US Marine Corps when he was eligible, serving his country stationed at Clarksville Base in Tennessee during the Korean War. A year after enlisting, he married Ruth Nace in Spring Grove at Wetzel’s Church in November 1953. After his time in the Marine Corps, he and Ruth returned to Pennsylvania where he began farming, raising laying hens, cattle, sheep, and rabbits. Bill was known to many in Hanover because he delivered eggs from his hens door-to-door. He farmed near Lineboro, MD and Glenville, PA until 1998 when he retired. Bill enjoyed the outdoors and worked hard throughout his life. In his retirement, he remained active at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hanover supporting the Toy Workshop fixing over 1500 bicycles and volunteered for the PAL Lunch program serving meals to those in need. He cared for all his animals well, keeping many pigeons and chickens of all breeds at a small farm outside York. He was very proud of his service in the Marine Corps, work on the farm, and family, especially his two grandsons.

In addition to his wife of nearly 69 years, Ruth, who currently lives in Royersford, and a son, Michael Gallagher and his wife, Beth, of Lansdale, PA; and grandsons, Ethan and Owen.

The funeral will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, September 9, 2022 at Trinity United Church of Christ, 116 York Street in Hanover, with The Rev. Dr. Kim Blocher officiating. Burial will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery with military honors being rendered by the Hanover Allied Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at a viewing at the church one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion by visiting mylegion.org or to the Boy Scouts of America by visiting donations.scouting.org