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Writer's pictureBeltsville News

Obituary: Bernard Henry Gallagher


Bernard Henry Gallagher of Beltsville, MD, died on December 5, 2017, at Corsica Hills Nursing Home. He was 89. Mr. Gallagher was born on November 19, 1928, a 5th generation native of Alexandria, VA. He graduated from George Washington High School. In 1948, he joined the US Army Reserve and was called up in 1950, serving during the Korean War. He completed his military career as a sergeant first class. He married Charlotte Ward on June 24, 1957, and the couple made their home in Landover Hills, MD, later Beltsville, MD. He worked in the railroad industry, starting his career in 1946 with the Southern Railroad, later moving to the Fruit Grover’s Express and then the Washington Terminal Company. He was a steam locomotive machinist and carman. He went on to work for Allen Mitchell & Co., a machine shop, of Washington, DC, and was a contract machinist at NASA Greenbelt. He retired in 1990.Mr. Gallagher was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Beltsville, MD; the Knights of Columbus; and the National Historical Railroad Society. He was instrumental in the restoration of the Pullman car “Dover Harbor” and held the title of Chief Mechanical Officer Emeritus. He was dedicated in the service of his brother machinists, serving as a shop steward and local officer. He was an accomplished model railroad train builder and railroad historian.He is survived by his loving wife, Charlotte Mary Gallagher, of Beltsville, MD; his children: Madeline Mitchell (David) of Alexandria, VA, Bernard Gallagher of Beltsville, MD, and John Gallagher (Jeanine) of Cordova, MD; a sister, Jean Whalen of TX; grandchildren: Blaine (Jessica), John, Austin, Juliana, Alexander, and Scott; and 4 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard Travers Gallagher and Eleanor Kate Kingsley Gallagher; a daughter, Marie Miller; and a brother, Michael Gallagher. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Wednesday, December 13, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Beltsville, MD. In lieu of flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Railway Historical Society, 1001 G St. NW, Ste. 800W, Washington, DC 20001 or www.nrhs.com; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 or www.alz.org.

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