Obituary of William "Bill" Andrew Gallant

William “Bill” A. Gallant was born February 26, 1941 in Erie, Pennsylvania, and passed away November 11, 2020. He is preceded in death by his father Andrew F. Gallant; mother Catherine Chromik Gallant; and sons Mark W. Gallant, and Brian M. Gallant. Left to cherish Bill’s memory are his loving wife, of 56 years, Sandra Webster Gallant; son Craig W. Gallant and ex-wife Shawn Fitzgerald; daughter Tanya Gallant Toot and ex-husband, Steven Toot; daughter-in-law Colleen Bohonis; brother Dennis Gallant and wife, Julie; sister Alice Gallant Harpel and husband, Chuck; grandchildren Sonoma Toot, Connor Toor, Ryan Pledger (Bailey), Madison Gallant, McKinzy Gallant Canaday (Gavin), Sydney Gallant, Payton Gallant, Katelynn Gallant, Megan Gallant; great grandchildren Brady Pledger, Ryleigh Pledger, and a host of many other dear family and friends. Bill grew up in a rural town of Albion, PA on approximately 30-acres with his sister, Alice and brother, Dennis. They had the distinction of living in a unique log cabin that his mom and dad had built. Bill loved the outdoors and spent many hours tramping through the woods at his home. He often went hunting, fishing, and camping with his dad, uncles, cousins, and friends. He talked warmly of the great times they had in Canada. As a teenager, Bill spent his summers helping his dad, driving tractor, and working with his uncles on their potato farms. In high school, Bill was highly active in sports. He played basketball, football, and threw javelin in which he won the state’s championship. Bill also loved flying and owned a single engine plane with a friend. He took flying lessons in his pursuit of a pilot’s license. Many an afternoon he flew over his hometown, (usually including a few friends’ houses) accumulating flying hours. After high school, Bill went to St. Louis University in Dayton, Ohio. He majored in Aeronautics following his love of flying. He also received an FAA Airframe and Engine Mechanical Certificate. After graduation, he joined the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant. His first assignment was at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM. Just before he reported to Holloman AFB, he married Sandy Webster of DuBois, PA. They spent their honeymoon driving across country to New Mexico. Bill was stationed at Holloman AFB for about two years. He was then transferred to Vandenburg AFB, California. At Vandenburg AFB Bill worked on the design and testing of high-speed sleds and satellites. His high-speed sled design set a record for its speed. This record was maintained from 1967 to 1969. Bill was a Captain when he left the Air Force in 1968. He, Sandy, Craig, Mark, and Tanya moved to Albuquerque, NM where Bill went to University of New Mexico for a master’s in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he and his family headed back east to Walden, New York where he started his civilian career at Texaco Research Center in Fishkill, NY. This brought them closer to family in PA. In the 80’s, Bill and family again decided to move. This time south to Texas with HOMCO International. Bill worked at various companies over the years in Texas. Lockheed Engineering & Science in Clear Lake, TX was his final company before retiring. Here he put his mechanical and technical leadership skills to work with projects dealing with flight equipment and testing for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. As always, Bill found ways to give back to his community no matter where he lived. In Walden, NY he volunteered as Director of Youth Athletic Programs, coached a Youth Basketball Team, was a co-founder of a Community Emergency Aid Organization, helped form a NY Taxpayers Association, and ran for Village Council. In Texas, he was a Fort Bend precinct captain, volunteered as poll watcher, and co-organizer and acting chair for UWSA Southwest Volunteers. He was a mentor for “I have a Dream”, a big brother organization, in Houston, TX. When Bill wanted to unwind, he would sail. It was his favorite hobby. He loved the water and the wind. You could find him on any good weekend sailing on the Hudson River in NY or in Galveston Bay in TX. It was also his joy to take family and/or friends out for a fun day or to teach them how to sail. There were many breezy times on Galveston Bay or the Gulf if anyone was game. Even with the demands of work and his extra-curricular activities, Bill was available for family. He helped Craig and Mark with the mechanics of cars, and Tanya with building bird houses. He also helped/supported their baseball, softball, football, track, and dancing activities. He taught them all about perseverance and hard work. A teacher in high school did not think Bill could make it in engineering, but staying the course and working hard, proved that teacher wrong. He could look at a problem, produce a solution, using materials at hand. That came from old fashioned demanding work on the farm. A tribute to his resourcefulness. He also designed and built a 6-row garlic planter for his dad from pictures he took of garlic planters in California. Bill also pitched in and supported Sandy with all her animal rescues. Bill never complained about any of the work, he just found ways to help. As a kid, he worked the fields with his grandfather using a horse drawn plough. He grew up to become a mechanical engineer working on projects for Satellites and the International Space Station. An impressive transition. Bill is missed and always will be. Yes, he is in our hearts, but being able to hold his hand or give him a hug would mean the world to his family and friends. He was a loving, calm, kind, intelligent, stubborn, hard-working man with a strong belief system. As a family, we are blessed for having him in our lives. You are not gone. You are in the wind, the sun, the rain, the clouds. You are everywhere. Free to go anywhere. You are with us always. A graveside service will be held for Bill on June 10, 2022, at 10:30 am, at the Houston National Cemetery, in Houston, Texas.