Rosemary Gallaway

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Rosemary Gallaway, 93, died Aug. 28, 2013, in La Quinta, Calif., at her home.

She was born Nov. 8, 1919. The eldest child of Delbert and Mary Ferris Dunlap, Rosemary spent her childhood in Jackson Township then attended Ridge High School where she was a member of the Queen's Court at the annual Van Wert County Peony Festival in 1937.

After graduation in 1938, she married Doyt Gallaway. They spent the first 14 years of their 63-year marriage near Van Wert then farmed and operated a John Deere dealership for the next 30 years in Athens Co. before returning to Van Wert for several years. After retirement they went to Sun City West in Arizona where they were both active in creating a very extensive and well-known cacti-growing business.

After Doyt's death in 2001, Rosemary spent the next nine years near her daughter in Santa Rosa and San Rafael, Calif., before her final move in 2011 to La Quinta, Calif. Needless to say, she had a bit of wanderlust in her and was always open to new places and new ideas.

Survivors include children: Jayne (Pat) Lyons of La Quinta, Calif., and Robert (Jean) Gallaway of Good Thunder, Minn.; grandchildren: Nanette (Dave) Hartup, Aaron Gallaway, Erik (Dawn) Gallaway; great-grandchildren: Emily and Nick Hartup and Tyler (Paige) Gallaway, and a great-great-granddaughter: Kinnley Gallaway.

She was preceded in death by a brother: Dennis Dunlap.

She was a homemaker.

Private family graveside services will be held at Ridge Cemetery, Middle Point, Ohio.

Visitation is 4-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, if desired, memorial contributions can be made in her name to Charter Hospice who cared very well for in her in her last days. The address is 1012 East Cooley Dr. Suite G, Colton, Ca. 92324.