In
Memory of Von Gallion
published in the SNU newsletter June 2015
Von
Gallion passed away in Boise, ID on April 28, 2015. Von was a long
time member of the SNU. He had been a member of Tri County Unit
(Central Coast) for many years before he started spending more time
at his home at Lake Tahoe. According to his obituary, Von made his
living as a musician together with his brother, Rex. Known as the
Gallion Brothers they played at many dances and parties in the towns
around Van Buren where he grew up. Music continued to be part of his
life during his military career and as a popular group in the club
scene in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. He also played in the
band at WBCCI rallies and Hobo rallies. At one point in his life, Von
and his wife Margaret owned a mobile home park. That eventually got
them into Airstreaming and joining WBCCI. Von and his wife were
active WBCCI members until Margaret's death in 2000. Von kept on
participating in WBCCI and at some point, he met Yvonne de Roule, a
fellow saxophonist. The two of them traveled together for years and
were participants in several SNU rallies. Von was close to 90 years
old when his doctor told him it was time to park permanently. Von was
a great guy and we always enjoyed hearing his stories when he and
Yvonne came to rallies. One of our favorite stories was when Von came
to a rally at Lahontan in 2007. He forgot that he wasn't at a full
service RV park and ran the batteries in both his Airstream and truck
flat. We got him charged up quickly and he was back in business. He
will be missed by all who knew him.
https://santamariatimes.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/von-james-gallion/article_fde779b0-4114-5769-bd78-2ab8a89f466a.html
Von James Gallion passed away peacefully last
Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in the wonderful hands of Life Care's Memory
clinic in Boise, Idaho.He was born in Van Buren, Indiana, to Maude
Currens Gallion and James D. Gallion on December 8, 1920. Passionate
about music from boyhood, Von made his living as a musician together
with his brother, Rex. Known as the Gallion Brothers they played at
many dances and parties in the towns around Van Buren.
Von's family moved to to the San Francisco area in
the early 1930's and settled in Oakland. It was about that time Von's
life was about to change. Fred Gallion of Los Gatos had been
listening to CBS radio and heard the Gallion Brothers play. He was
curious whether the two families were related and a meeting was soon
set up at Von's family home in Oakland. As far they could determine
they were perhaps fifth cousins. The two families became good friends
and the following year when visiting in Los Gatos, Von met Margaret
June Gallion. It was love at first sight and three months later they
were married and enjoyed a wonderful sixty years of marriage.
Von served in the Navy during World War II and was
posted to the Naval Air Station in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. He
and Rex were part of the musician corps and entertained the Navy
personnel in the Alaskan arena. Post war, Von and Rex worked together
in early days of TV in Southern California with KTTV and became a
popular group in the club scene in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Lake
Tahoe.
In the 1960's, Margaret and Von became involved in
mobile home parks in California and Las Vegas and eventually settled
down in Santa Maria with the purchase of Del Cielo Mobile Estates
where they resided for many years amongst their residents and many
good friends. During these years they discovered the pleasures of
"Airstreaming" and traveled across the country in their
"Silver Bullet" at their own pace or attending numerous
Wally Byam rallies. Von was an active participant in the Wally Byam
orchestra and jazz band and thus continued his love of music.
An abiding love for the beauty of Lake Tahoe,
inspired Von and Margaret to move to Incline Village, Nevada where
their expanding family and many friends enjoyed wonderful times for
almost forty years.
Margaret passed away in 2000 and though mourning
her loss deeply Von continued his Airstream travels and his
participation in the band. This is when he met and befriended fellow
saxophonist, Yvonne de Roule. The two of them became active travelers
for many years.
Von was an active Life Member of the Santa Maria
Elks Lodge 1538 for 56 years. He was also a member of the San
Francisco Musician's Union Local 6 since 1938.
Von is survived by his son, Stephen Gallion and
wife Lilia, Calistoga, daughter Suzette Mangini and husband
Christopher, Boise, Idaho. Von's grandchildren: Jamie Gansler
(Harold), Jennifer Johnson, Megan De Leon (Juan), Lindsay Jacksits
(Jimmy), Trista Corker (Tom), Nick Mangini (Brittany) and great
grandchildren: Erin Van Heel, Silas and Juliet Jacksits, Lucy, Nina
and Levi Mangini, Jourdan Corker and nieces Joan and Maeve Meighan.
Graveside service are planned for 10:30 am on
Saturday May 9th at the Santa Maria Cemetery. There will be a
reception at the Santa Maria Inn later that day at 4pm in the Cabana
Room.
In lieu of flowers donations in Von Gallion's name
can be made to your favorite charity.