John O. Galloup

John O. Galloup, 90, of Naples, Florida, died Saturday, May 28, 2016. His children take great comfort in knowing he is finally reunited with his sweetheart of all time, and wife of 57 years, Marilyn, who preceded him in death September 26, 2005.

John was born November 24, 1925 in Battle Creek to John Andrew and Vivian M. (Hammer) Galloup. He grew up in Battle Creek, and spent many happy summers at the family cottage on Gull Lake. He attended St. Philip School and Battle Creek Central High School where he was named to the high school All American Swimming Team for the 50 yard free style his senior year.

John joined the US Navy in June of 1943 where he served aboard the USS Omaha, a light cruiser, patrolling the South Atlantic. The summer of 1944 was spent in the Mediterranean taking part in the invasion of Southern France. He was discharged from the Navy in May of 1946. John remained very active with the other veterans of the USS Omaha and spent many fun times with his fellow sailors at the ship reunions.

He attended Argubright’s Business College and soon after joined the family business at the Galloup Pipe & Supply Co. where he worked in the warehouse before moving into the office doing bookkeeping and sales work. He was a member of the Board of Directors during the 50’s and 60’s and was Secretary/Treasurer during most of that time. Later he helped develop the Heating Design Department and worked there until leaving the company in April of 1969. He rejoined the Board in 1978.

John’s first job however, was in 1939 at the age of 14, where he worked as a soda jerk at “Conrons Soda Fountain” in the bay on Gull Lake. It was there that he met a girl with a dazzling smile named Marilyn Eckrich, who tried to get his attention by smoking cigars with her friends. It worked, and in November of 1947 they married and began raising their family of eight children.

He was a gifted “gadget-man” and loved electronics. He built radios and stereo systems for his teen aged daughters, and kept his sons busy chasing after home made rockets he would launch from the backyard. John was a long time amateur radio (Ham) operator and was known to many across the US and the world by his call letters, W8PYQ.

John enjoyed music and taught himself to play the organ. He and Marilyn loved to throw lavish dinner parties and go dancing at the Athelston Club. He loved new cars and couldn’t wait to install his CB radios in each one. He golfed, played bridge, and liked to go goose hunting. He was a member of the Knife and Fork Club. He always had a garden complete with chickens! He loved to watch TV, his favorite shows being All in the Family, The Golden Girls, and Everybody Loves Raymond.

After retiring in Naples, he and Marilyn enjoyed many wonderful cruises to the Bahamas and South America. They loved visiting Michigan in the springtime to meet all the new grandchildren. Though devastated after losing the love of his life in 2005, and his blindness the last ten years, John managed to continue to dance with the ladies at “the Joint”, his favorite name for the assisted living community where he lived. As a devout Catholic, he loved to pray the Rosary and continued to lead the Rosary every Friday until shortly before his death.

Surviving are his children, Stephen Galloup of Portage, MI, Jeannie VandenBerg of Taos, NM, Karen Oliver of Durham, NC, Ann (Gregg) Agens of Naples, FL, Theresa (Roderick) Burke of Battle Creek, MI and Jessica Fleming also of Battle Creek. John was preceded in death by his parents, Andy and Vivian, and by his siblings, Robert Galloup and Barbara (Shurtz) Galloup. Two sons also preceded him in death, John C. Galloup and Mark A. Galloup, along with one grandson, Benjamin J. Burke. John left behind 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. His children will miss him dearly; he was the true patriarch of the family and did his best to pass on his respect for our country, his love of family and devotion to God and the Blessed Mother.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening, June 9th, at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. John D. Fleckenstein at St. Philip Catholic Church 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 10th followed by interment at Memorial Gardens with the Honor Guard attending.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Riverside Alano Club, 223 E. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek, MI, 49014.