ROBERT EUGENE GALVIN

Friday, August 27, 2010

Robert Eugene Galvin, age 85, a former Fort Scott pharmacist, died Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010, at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Mo.

He was born Aug. 14, 1925, in Cherokee, Kan., the son of Lester Oliver Galvin and Pansy Lytle Galvin.

Bob was a graduate of Fort Scott High School and Pharmacy school in Kansas City.

He married Dorothy Elizabeth Tracy on June 22, 1946 in Fort Scott. She preceded him in death on Nov. 29, 2009.

Bob was a veteran serving during WWII with the United States Navy. As a 20 year old medic on duty aboard the USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay, on Sept. 2, 1945, Bob was able to witness the official statement of surrender between the Japanese and Admiral Chester William Nimitz. Galvin's military career had really just begun with the event that signaled the end of the war. He would go on to fight in Korea and was commissioned into the Army in 1956. He served in the Navy, Army and the National Guard for a total of 29 years, 11 months and 7 days.

His pharmacy career began in Kansas City. He returned to Fort Scott and worked with his parents at Galvin's Drug located at 704 E. Wall Street. They later purchased the drug store and renamed it the Medicine Chest located at Wall and Main Streets.

Bob was active in politics and served at past Republican Chairman for Bourbon County. He served as president of the State Board of Pharmacy from 1964 to 1966. He was past chairman of the Fort Scott Saddle Club and past president of the Lyons Club from 1974 to 1976.

Survivors include three sons, Michael E. Galvin and wife Sherri, Des Moines, Iowa; Tracy Galvin and wife Donna and Kevin Galvin, all of Fort Scott; and one daughter, Janis L. Jackson and husband Kent, Waterloo, Iowa.

Also surviving are four grandchildren, Garrett Royston, Carrie Lee Flanagan, Sunnye Harding and Adam Hayden; and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and an infant granddaughter, Desiree Royston.

Pastor Tim Davish will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Monday in the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in U. S. National Cemetery with Military Honors conducted to the United States Navy.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to either the Friends of the Fort or Kansas City Hospice House and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.