Edward Joseph Gallaher lll

Born in Ashville, NC on September 19,1935, Ed died on July 1, 2025 in Sneads Ferry, NC. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward J. Gallaher, Jr. and Mary Eloise Tison Gallaher, a grandson, Kyle Joseph Gallaher, his sister Gail Gallaher Noel, sisters-in-law, Virginia H. Gallaher and Merriellen J. Bedosky, brothers-in-law, Stephen and Michael Bedosky. He is survived by his wife, Mary Anne Bedosky Gallaher and his children: Edward and Karen Gallaher of Chesapeake, VA; Colleen A. Gallaher of Sneads Ferry, NC; Patrick and Marisa Gallaher of Wilmington, NC; Sean and Elizabeth Gallaher of Apex, NC; Kevin and Deborah Gallaher of Oviedo, FL; Maureen E. Gallaher of Sugar Hill, GA; grandchildren: Kristen Lang (Christopher), Megan Owens, Corey Gallaher (Erica), Connor Shanta, Dane Shanta, Stephanie Harrill (Graham), Christopher Gallaher (Shannon), Riley, Regan McDaniel (Brock), Gracen Gallaher, Gavin Gallaher, Alina Gallaher, Kurtis Franciose (Kim), Victoria Hamilton (Jordan), Noah Inman, Nico Inman, and 16 great grandchildren.

He went to St. Mary's Catholic High School in Hagerstown, MD and then on to college on a baseball and a basketball scholarship, and in 1958, graduated from Georgetown University with a BSS degree. He then attended the Naval Officers' Candidate School in Newport, RI. Upon graduation from OCS, he married his life-long "angel", Mary Anne Bedosky. His first duty station was Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida followed by other stations at Alameda, CA, Okinawa, Japan, San Francisco, and the Pentagon. On release from active duty, he accepted a position with the Office of Naval Intelligence, first at the National Security Agency, and then back to the Pentagon until retirement in January, 1996. He was a Naval Reservist for 35 years.

He was very active in church work at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic church and school in Vienna, VA and with St Christopher church in Sneads Ferry, NC. He was a member of the Retired Officers' Organization on Camp Lejeune, and the USO. Once retired, he and Bunky looked forward to many wonderful summers of Cousins' Camp held for the grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice, to St. Jude Children's Hospital or the Dr. Stephen J. and Margaretta K. Bedosky Scholarship Fund at St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY 14478.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

A funeral mass will be held at Infant of Prague Catholic Church, Jacksonville, NC on September 5, 2025 at 4PM. Reception to follow in the church hall.