Robert Fulton Galer
July 19, 1918 — June 22, 2017
Robert F. Galer, 98, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2017. Known for his passion, intelligence, and kindness, he spent his entire life dedicated to his country, his family, and advocating for those less fortunate.
Funeral Services will be held 1:00 PM, Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at the Lummus Chapel at Linwood Cemetery in Columbus, GA with Rev. Joel L. Alvis, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5:00-7:00 PM at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Bob was born on July 19, 1918 in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, son of Robert Armington Galer and Mabel Robson Galer. He was raised in Montana and attended the University of Washington, was a ROTC graduate and later obtained a masters at Florida State. He entered active duty in 1940 and served in World War II and Korea, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Bob served as Inspector General at Fort Benning before retiring with the rank of Lt.Col.
In 1966, Bob was appointed to establish the first Equal Opportunity Employment Office at Ft. Benning, which he headed until his retirement in 1988. In retirement, he supported his wife, Mary Jane Galer in her legislative career in the Georgia Assembly. They both shared an interest in genealogy and historical preservation. These passions led Bob to the Sons of the American Revolution, where he served as Georgia State President in 1994, then served on Executive Committees at the national level and as Vice President General of the South Atlantic District. At SAR, he was honored with many awards, including the Minuteman Award, its highest honor.
In the 1990's, you could find Bob poring through local town hall records and trudging through fields as he led the effort to identify and mark graves of Revolutionary War soldiers, 17 in Georgia alone, and preserve historic battle sites. His final project was spearheading and designing the Revolutionary War Infantryman Monument that now sits at the head of the Avenue of Honor at the National Infantry Museum.
Bob had a love for the outdoors, excelling at tennis and golf, even skiing into his 80's.
Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Jane Galer of Columbus, GA; son, Frank Fulton Galer of Roanoke, VA; daughters, Barbara Jean Neufeld (Greg) of Didsbury, Alberta, Canada and Robin Robson Galer of San Francisco, CA; grandaughters: Katrina May (Tyson) Benner of Nebraska, Jennifer Galer Neufeld of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and one great-grandson, Easton Benner.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Bob's name to The Historic Linwood Foundation or the National Infantry Museum.
Funeral Services will be held 1:00 PM, Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at the Lummus Chapel at Linwood Cemetery in Columbus, GA with Rev. Joel L. Alvis, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5:00-7:00 PM at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Bob was born on July 19, 1918 in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, son of Robert Armington Galer and Mabel Robson Galer. He was raised in Montana and attended the University of Washington, was a ROTC graduate and later obtained a masters at Florida State. He entered active duty in 1940 and served in World War II and Korea, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Bob served as Inspector General at Fort Benning before retiring with the rank of Lt.Col.
In 1966, Bob was appointed to establish the first Equal Opportunity Employment Office at Ft. Benning, which he headed until his retirement in 1988. In retirement, he supported his wife, Mary Jane Galer in her legislative career in the Georgia Assembly. They both shared an interest in genealogy and historical preservation. These passions led Bob to the Sons of the American Revolution, where he served as Georgia State President in 1994, then served on Executive Committees at the national level and as Vice President General of the South Atlantic District. At SAR, he was honored with many awards, including the Minuteman Award, its highest honor.
In the 1990's, you could find Bob poring through local town hall records and trudging through fields as he led the effort to identify and mark graves of Revolutionary War soldiers, 17 in Georgia alone, and preserve historic battle sites. His final project was spearheading and designing the Revolutionary War Infantryman Monument that now sits at the head of the Avenue of Honor at the National Infantry Museum.
Bob had a love for the outdoors, excelling at tennis and golf, even skiing into his 80's.
Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Jane Galer of Columbus, GA; son, Frank Fulton Galer of Roanoke, VA; daughters, Barbara Jean Neufeld (Greg) of Didsbury, Alberta, Canada and Robin Robson Galer of San Francisco, CA; grandaughters: Katrina May (Tyson) Benner of Nebraska, Jennifer Galer Neufeld of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and one great-grandson, Easton Benner.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Bob's name to The Historic Linwood Foundation or the National Infantry Museum.
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