Virgil Gallaher

Virgil J. (Jim) Gallaher of Vancouver, WA was born in Colorado Springs, CO. on September 8, 1944 and passed away unexpectedly on June 13, 2017 while visiting friends in San Francisco, CA. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a good friend. He loved his family, his cat, the Seahawks and the Mariners (when they were winning).

Jim grew up in Torrington Wyoming and Nampa Idaho before moving to Tacoma, WA. He entered the Army at a young age serving during the crisis in Grenada. He then served three tours in Vietnam as a helicopter medic. After the service he found his real purpose in life as a paramedic in Pierce County, WA. He was one of the early paramedics in Washington with a certification number of 9. He also started a new paramedic service in Reno, NV.

He was certified through Tacoma Community College as a Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic. At the age of 40, he started college and graduated in from City University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration.

His final passion was working as a church administrator at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island, WA.

Jim is survived by his wife Kathy; two daughters, Serin Anderson (Mike) and Victoria Gordon; grandchildren Kasey and Joshua Anderson and Brent Gordon. He is also survived by his brother, Jefferson Gallaher (Jenny) and nephews.

A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held Saturday, July 22 at 2:00pm at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1187 Wyatt Way NW, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

 In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1187 Wyatt Way, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 or St, Luke's ~San Lucas Episcopal Church, 426 East Fourth Plain Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98663

Inurnment will be at Haven of Rest Memorial Park in Gig Harbor, WA. 

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