Donna Gallina's Obituary
Donna Jean Gallina, daughter of Donald Woodrow and Ada Jean (Criswell) Whitaker was born July 2, 1937, in Denhoff, South Dakota. She departed this life Friday, December 11, 2009, in Cox Medical Center South, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of seventy-two years, five months, and nine days. On October 20, 1956 she was united in marriage to Richard Allan Gallina and to this union three daughters were born. They spent almost fifty-one years together before his passing on May 14, 2007. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and a step-brother, Phillip Childress. Donna is survived by her daughters, Pamela Welliver and her husband, Brian, of Lompoc, California, Barbara Lee and her husband, Jerry, of Seymour, Missouri, and Brenda Campbell of Richmond, Virginia; seven grandchildren, Kyle Welliver, Sara Wheat, Kristi Lee, Kari Lee, Rebecka Peterson, Richard Blascow, and Robert Blevins; four great-grandchildren, Karlee Howie, Andrew Lee, Richard Cook, Arianna Blascow, and one due soon, who will be named Richard; her step-father, Herman Childress, of Branson, Missouri; two sisters, Selma Culver, Blue Springs, Missouri and Karen Lucore and her husband, Harvey, Haughton, Louisiana; a step-brother, Gary Childress, of Branson, Missouri; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. She was born in South Dakota and moved to Seymour, Missouri, as a child and graduated from Seymour High School in the Class of 1956. After she and Richard were married, they lived in different places while he was serving in the United States Air Force. Following his retirement, they moved back to the Seymour area to make their home. They owned and operated a cleaning business doing custodial work in businesses, private homes and was a devoted homemaker to her family. Donna had accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a member of Pilgrims Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Peace Valley, Missouri. In her spare time, she enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, and reading. Richard and she worked in stained glass for a few years and she also liked to cook and sew when the girls were young. Donna was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, step-daughter, sister, aunt, and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday December 16, 2009 at the Holman-Howe Funeral Home Seymour. Burial will be in the Seymour Masonic Cemetery under the direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home Seymour, Missouri. Return to top
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