Alfred Edward Gallaher

Funeral services for Alfred Edward Gallaher, 89, Waynesboro, TN will be conducted Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 1 pm at Shackelford Funeral Home Chapel with Matthew Morine and Bobby Pinckley officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens, Waynesboro, TN. He died on Monday, April 14, 2008 at Wayne Medical Center. He was the seventh son and last of eight children, born to William James (Billy) Gallaher and Nora Clara Cole Gallaher. Alfred was born May 6, 1918 on Banjo Branch, also known as Talley Branch, Waynesboro, TN. Alfred attended the old Ray School, presently known as Ray's Chapel Baptist Church, on upper Hog Creek and graduated from Wayne County High School in 1936. He entered Austin Peay State, Clarksville, TN in the fall of 1936. He was good at sports, playing in football, baseball (pitcher), and basketball (center). He was on the main team in basketball who won the Southeastern Conference Championship in 1938. Alfred said, "One of the greatest benefits of being on the athletic teams was getting to eat free at the athletic training table."



Alfred taught school at Holly Creek and Holt School on Big Cypress Creek before being drafted into WWII on March 15, 1942. After basic training, Alfred E. Gallaher, 34193099, Technical Sergeant, 325th Glider Infantry, served in the 82nd Airborne Glider Division in Europe throughout the European campaign and was in many major battles during that time including invasions by glider in Sicily, Normandy, and Holland. He was also a part of major battles in Italy and Belgium, as well as the Battle of the Bulge, where his division fought the Germans in deep snow for many days. He was one of the lucky ones to survive three years of heavy combat. He received many honors including the Bronze Star Medal for heroic conduct in action on 15 June 1944. Alfred was fortunate to only have been injured one time and that was during the invasion of Italy. Alfred served as Co-pilot for his glider on more than one occasion, having the responsibility to assist in the landing of the airplane without an engine.



After, WWII, Alfred was employed by the Government as an instructor in the On-the-Farm Training Progran in Wayne County, TN. In 1949, he returned to elementary school teaching. He taught and/or served as principle of Pinhook Elementary School at Lutts, TN retiring at age 65, in 1983.



In 1950, Alfred purchased a farm in partners with his brother, Spencer R. Gallaher on Indian Creek. He spent many years enjoying teaching young people and the peace of his rural farm life. If you meet one of Alfred's students, they will likely say, "I was his pet". He once said, "if you want to be a teacher you have to love children".



Alfred was a member of the Waynesboro Church of Christ. He was an avid student of the Bible and insisted on a family Bible reading every day around 6 pm in his home. Alfred was a quiet, gentle man with great inner strength. He was a much-loved hero, not only by the Gallaher clan, but also to many others.