The Rev. Walter D. Galbraith

The Rev. Walter D. Galbraith died Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, in Zelienople, where his wife Barbara still resides. 

Galbraith was born Aug. 17, 1921, in Lewisburg, PA, while his father was studying at Bucknell University. When he was 9 months old, he moved with his parents, Walter D. Galbraith, Sr. and Anna Dorothy Angstadt Galbraith, to Dallas, TX. He attended public school in Dallas, TX, graduating from high school in 11th grade, as was the norm at that time. He received a law degree from the University of Texas.

Galbraith was stationed in Guam while in the U.S. Navy during World War II. When he received God's call to become a pastor, he attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA, receiving a Bachelor of Divinity in May of 1953, followed with a Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1973. Pastor Galbraith was ordained June 7, 1953, at Grace Lutheran Church in Houston, TX.

After marrying Barbara E. Wentz Sept. 26, 1953, in Philadelphia, PA, the newlyweds made their home from 1953-1958 in Lake Charles, LA, where he was a mission developer and pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Pastor Galbraith was mission developer and pastor in Mesquite, TX, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (1958-1963) and in Brownsville, TX (1963-1966), at Hope Lutheran. He then became pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Manorville, PA (1966-1975). In 1975, he was called as an assistant to the Bishop of the Western Pennsylvania-West Virginia Synod of the Lutheran Church in America, and remained in that position until his retirement in 1987. After retirement, he continued to serve several congregations on a part-time basis until June of 2007.

He is survived by his daughter, Mary Schall and her husband Richard Schall, his son Mark Galbraith, and his son Pastor Martin Galbraith and his wife Pastor Margarethe Galbraith-Cordes. In addition, he has four grandchildren: Matthew Klingensmith and his wife Sarah Klingensmith, Kate Williams and her husband Peter Williams, Rebecca Galbraith and Angela Galbraith. He also has three great-grandchildren Allyson, Zachary and Brady Klingensmith. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.

Family will welcome friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at , 388 Center Ave, West View. Services at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Seaman Chapel of Passavant Retirement Community.

The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to both Passavant Retirement Community and Heartland Hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to Trinity Lutheran Church, 616 West North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4538.

Please pay tribute at www.schellhaasfh.com.