Richard "Dick" Frederick Galleher

resident of Poulsbo, Washington and Nome, Alaska. After an event-filled 87 years, Richard passed away peacefully at his home in Poulsbo on May 13th. He was one of six children born to the late Marie Soll and Richard Lewis Galleher and was the beloved husband of Joyce Peterson Galleher for over 58 years.Richard was born in Yakima, raised in Bremerton (Enetai) and spent the majority of his life as a bush pilot in Alaska, living in Anchorage, Bethel, Dillingham, Red Devil, and finally Nome. BOATS. His early years were all about boats, spending time on the waterfront at Enetai and serving as Vice-Commodore of the Bremerton Junior Yacht Club in 1939.PLANES. From boats he went to planes. Dick first took flying lessons in 1941 at Lake Union, soloing in a Taylorcraft seaplane after only 5-1/2 hours. Dick then moved to Pullman as flight instructor for Air Corps cadets and enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943, scoring so highly on the entrance exam they thought the results were in error - until he scored higher on the second taking. After discharge in 1946 he and his partners started the BonAire Flying Service seaplane business in Bremerton. CARS. In 1950 Dick bought a 1938 "Sunset Strip" Darrin Packard, in which he courted Joyce Elaine Peterson. That worked and they were married in 1951, when he flew them off for an adventure to the Territory of Alaska.FAMILY. Newlyweds Dick and Joyce married and headed for Alaska in 1951 after Dick got a taste of Alaska in 1950. The adventure started with a honeymoon home in Bethel, Alaska and moved on to Dillingham, Red Devil, Anchorage, and Nome.BACK TO PLANES. Dick originally headed for Alaska for a contract flying job on Nunivak Island in 1950. In 1951 he sold BonAire when he and Joyce headed for Alaska. Dick flew for Northern Consolidated in Bethel and Dillingham, co-owned Arctic Air Cargo in Anchorage, and purchased an Aero Commander, the first modern light twin engine aircraft in Alaska. In 1958 Dick moved to Nome with his growing family (Joyce and Gail) and, once in Nome, expanded the family with Brian and Blaine. Dick and Joyce bought out Munz Airways in 1962 and created Munz Northern Airlines, a Civil Aeronautics Board certificated air carrier serving the people of Western Alaska. In 1983 they sold Munz Northern and set off on new adventures.BACK TO BOATS. In 1983 Dick and Joyce bought a 41' ketch, the Joyce Elaine, and a "winter home" in Poulsbo, moving into a home that has only ever been lived in by Alaskans. They felt they had never made a decision that fast before that was so right. They sailed with the Poulsbo Yacht Club and had many an exciting voyage, including one into Alaska. Life was never dull with Dick.BACK TO CARS. Once anchored in Poulsbo, Dick joined the Olympic Vintage Auto Club (OVAC) and gladly signed up for any car tours headed in any direction. Dick and Joyce took the Packard into Canada, Oregon, and all the way to North Dakota (Joyce's homestead) which included a far-too-exciting trip back through Montana (hot, hot, hot….vapor locks). BACK TO FAMILY: With all his toys there was nothing that Dick prized more or treated better than his family.Dick will forever be remembered by his beloved children Gail Galleher (Frank Flavin) and Blaine Galleher (Kim Allen Galleher), treasured grandchildren Brett and Conner Merboth, brother Jerry Galleher (Dede Galleher), nephew Dave George and niece Jennifer Vroom, sister-in-law Jeanne Mitchell along with countless friends and family around the globe who were blessed to know him. He was preceded in death by his infant son Ross Michael and his much-loved son Brian Gareth, his parents, and his sister Virginia Galleher George, and three infant siblings he did not know.Besides family, Dick loved traveling (especially Mexico), reading, boating, driving his '38 Packard, and flying. He enjoyed being with family and friends. He touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and maintained his trademark sense of humor to his last day. In aviation lingo, we know Dick now has CAVU flying conditions - Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited. IT ENDS WITH BOATS: Dick wrote of death… "All things considered, I'd rather be on my boat." Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of Dick's life on Sunday, May 23, 2010 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Poulsbo Yacht Club, 18129 Fjord Drive NE, Poulsbo, Washington. The celebration plan:2:00 - 3:00 pm Gathering & Reception3:00 - 3:20 pm Safe Passage Blessing & Remembrance4:00 pm Final Once Around the Block - Parade of Cars after Dick's Darrin Packard (Quick swing through Poulsbo)We invite friends to participate and share in the good memories of Dick's life, well lived. Gatherings will also be held in Anchorage and Nome at a later date.Gifts in memory of Dick are suggested to the Hospice of Kitsap County, 3100 Northwest Bucklin Hill Road Silverdale, WA 98383-8362, the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum (http://www.alaskaairmuseum.org/), the Center for Wooden Boats (www.cwb.org), to the Nome, Alaska Radio Stations KICY or KNOM, or to the organization of your choosing.Dick's favorite verse from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam"The moving finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy piety nor witShall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it."