John Jerome Gallaher

John Jerome Gallaher, 93, passed away quietly on the evening of October 16, 2022, in his home. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Patricia Gallaher, his parents, George Gallaher and Mary (Mertens) Gallaher, and his brothers and sisters, Herman, Boyd, Agnes (Johnson), Clara (Howe), Robert, Joseph, and Bernard. He is survived by his sons, John and Richard, and daughters-in-law Robin (Cartwright) and Kristy (Rankin), and grandchildren Natalie, Boyd, Kaitlyn, and Richard.

John was a devout Catholic, pilot, flight instructor, church and civic volunteer. He lead a colorful life. As a pilot, he started his career at Cessna, and flew all manner of planes. After leaving Cessna, he flew a Lear jet, carrying celebrities such as Muhammad Ali, James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Richard Dreyfuss, as well as private companies, for all sorts of purposes, from overnight loads of bolts to keep factories running to corporate retreats. On one trip, he flew the rock band Humble Pie, and to make the trip memorable, went weightless for several seconds, floating the band and their guitars down the cabin. On another memorable trip, he flew through the eye of Hurricane Carla in a small plane, much to the surprise of a young Dan Rather, who was a reporter in Houston at the time, who exclaimed, “That can only be John Gallaher!”

He was a man of strong opinions and non-stop ideas. When he was young, he invented a mechanical horizon to help in landing planes. Even in his later years, he was always having ideas, talking often about his theories of how air behaves around an airplane wing. Perhaps his greatest gift, though, was as an instructor, teaching many people over the years, including his nephews Bill and Jim Johnson, fostering a love of flying into a career in aviation for both of them.

He was a tireless volunteer for the church and civic groups in his later years, and a devoted care-giver to his wife in her final illness.

A viewing will be held November 1st 4-8 pm, with a Rosary at 6:00. at Puente and Sons Funeral Chapels-Northeast, 14315 Judson Road., San Antonio, Texas 78233. Funeral Mass will be held on November 2nd 11:30 am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 6680 Crestway Dr, San Antonio, TX 78239 with burial and military honors to follow at 1:30 pm Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.