Obituaries

Gordon Thomas Galow, 102, passed from this life on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. He was born to Edward and Anna Galow of Ashley, PA, on August 12, 1922.

Gordon was married for 73 years to his lifelong love, Ruth. They began dating in 1939 and attended a showing of Gone with the Wind, having a picnic lunch because there was an intermission. After education, employment, and the war, they finally married in their childhood church, Westminster Presbyterian, Wilkes-Barre PA. They continued their union until Ruth passed in 2021, 82 years since their first date. Ruth and Gordon loved to travel both in the US and abroad, even visiting relatives in Cornwall, England. They made so many friends on their trips, always embracing the joys of sites and stories they shared. Many photographs are in albums due to Gordon’s avid interest in photography, while Ruth detailed in writing the eventful trips they enjoyed.

Gordon‘s interest in airplanes began when he was six years old. His mother treasured a bi-wing model plane he built when he was quite young. His father, who owned Galow Construction, taught him everything he knew about building and carpentry during his youth and teen years. Gordon attended Hanover High School, where he was class president his senior year. He went on to attend Bucknell Jr. College, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Casey Jones School of Aeronautics in Newark, NJ. Gordon was soon hired as an aeronautical engineer at Fairchild Aircraft Company, Hagerstown, MD, where he did wind tunnel work and preliminary design for airplanes built and used during World War II. He was drafted and entered the Army Air Corps in 1944. Gordon was deployed to the South Pacific, where his expertise as a cryptographer was vital to the war effort. He returned from the war in 1946 and continued his employment at Fairchild. After Ruth and Gordon married in 1948, they had children, purchased homes, and in 1963, Gordon left Fairchild and began working at the Aviation Applied Technology Lab, Dept. of the Army, Ft. Eustis, VA. There he turned his interest and expertise to helicopters and spent much time on the development of the Blackhawk. The camaraderie he enjoyed with his fellow workers and the American Helicopter Society played a significant role in his life. He retired from civil service at the age of 71 in 1993.

Gordon was an avid reader and would often devour four books a week. He kept a list on his computer of all the books he checked out from the library to make sure he wasn’t going to check out any he had previously read. Gordon was always willing to help out with his loving and caring manner but will be remembered by family and friends for his friendliness, patience, and understated sense of humor. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren about computer games, photography, birds, and plants, showing the boys how planes could fly, and building dollhouses for his granddaughters. He was the go-to man whenever a toy was broken. The children used to say, “Oh, Grandpa can fix it”, and he always did!

Gordon served as a deacon and was a member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church for almost 60 years. He regularly attended services until his health would not permit, but he still enjoyed watching services virtually.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Blythe; son, Craig; grandchildren, Logan, Abigail (Travers), and Madeline (David); and two great-grandsons, Myles and Levi.

The family is grateful for the love, devotion, and caring concern by those from Elite Elder Care.

There will be a private graveside service in Pennsylvania at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home.