Obituary for Lachlan Niles Galbraith
Just weeks before the infamous Pearl Harbor attack, Lachlan Niles Galbraith was born to Roswell Niles Galbraith and Helen Galbraith in Port Chester, New York. It was Nov. 21, 1941.
Two years later, in the military tradition of the family, his farther deployed with the U.S. Navy. Helen moved with Lach and his sister, Alix, to Mount Kisco, New York, where they lived in a cottage on what was then Ophir Farm. Lach had fond memories there of running free in the safety of those fields and forests.
At 16, he moved with his family to Newtown, Pennsylvania, played football, and graduated in 1959 from Council Rock High School. Immediately after, in the family’s military tradition, he joined the U.S. Army.
Lach served as an ordinance supply specialist with the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He also joined the 101st ABN DIV Sports Parachute Club.
As an elite skydiver, he participated in air shows across the Midwestern U.S. His adventures ranged from navigating water dives at night to landing on bull’s eye targets and carrying watermelons through the sky.
In August 1962, he was honorably discharged from the Army.
Lach was a life-long learner. His college degrees include
• a Ph.D. in English Education from the University of California at Berkeley,
• a master’s in business administration from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO.,
• a bachelor’s in English education from the University of New York at Stony Brook,
• a bachelor’s in English literature from San Francisco State University,
After finishing his graduate work, Lachlan taught Education at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Then in 1976, he transitioned to the healthcare industry as director of education at Bethany Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
In Kansas City he met Judy Martin Galbraith, and in 1983 they married.
Lach’s life changed direction in 1984 when he felt the call of God. He began searching for spiritual truth in scriptures and in Christian literature, including the writings of C.S. Lewis. Lach joined Colonial Presbyterian Church in Southern Kansas City, MO and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ the same year. In 1986 he was baptized under the ministry of his father-in-law, Pastor Donald Martin, Ph.D.
In 1985, Galbraith took a position in strategic planning and public relations at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. While in Bangor, Lach hosted a weekend radio show exploring the doctrinal beliefs of various Christian denominations.
Lach transitioned to a position in healthcare marketing at Empire Health Systems in Spokane, WA in 1986. There he pioneered the Ask-a-Nurse nurse triage system.
While in Spokane, Lach and Judy added three children to their family — Paul, Matthew, and Rachel.
Then in 1990, Lach took a position in strategic marketing with National Health Enhancement Systems in Phoenix, AZ. At NHES, he helped develop and market the Centrimax nurse triage system.
After retiring from healthcare marketing in 2002, Lachlan spent 10 years teaching English composition at Paradise Valley Community College.
During his years in Phoenix, Lachlan taught adult Sunday School at Valley Presbyterian Church for five years.
One of the highlights of his life from 2005 to 2012 in Phoenix was his role in team-leading a Christian ministry to refugee families from Ghana and Sierra Leone.
Then in 2016 Lachlan and Judy retired to Lithia, Florida where they have attended Bell Shoals Church and St. Andrews United Methodist Church.
Lachlan battled cancer for 10 years before meeting his savior on April 1, 2022. He spent his last days in the company of family at his home in Lithia. He is survived by
• his wife, Judy, of 38 years;
• son U.S. Army Major Paul Galbraith and wife Mandy, and their children Josiah and Sophia;
• son Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew Galbraith;
• daughter, Rachel Pierson, her husband Justin Pierson and their son, Fox;
• sister, Alix Huntzinger; and
• sister-in-law, Elena Galbraith.
A service for Lachlan will be held at Bell Shoals Church Chapel, 2012 Bell Shoals Road, Brandon, FL 33511, on Thursday, April 28 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the Special Events Center (SEC).
Slideshow: https://youtu.be/80qCg3cogfk
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Two years later, in the military tradition of the family, his farther deployed with the U.S. Navy. Helen moved with Lach and his sister, Alix, to Mount Kisco, New York, where they lived in a cottage on what was then Ophir Farm. Lach had fond memories there of running free in the safety of those fields and forests.
At 16, he moved with his family to Newtown, Pennsylvania, played football, and graduated in 1959 from Council Rock High School. Immediately after, in the family’s military tradition, he joined the U.S. Army.
Lach served as an ordinance supply specialist with the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He also joined the 101st ABN DIV Sports Parachute Club.
As an elite skydiver, he participated in air shows across the Midwestern U.S. His adventures ranged from navigating water dives at night to landing on bull’s eye targets and carrying watermelons through the sky.
In August 1962, he was honorably discharged from the Army.
Lach was a life-long learner. His college degrees include
• a Ph.D. in English Education from the University of California at Berkeley,
• a master’s in business administration from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO.,
• a bachelor’s in English education from the University of New York at Stony Brook,
• a bachelor’s in English literature from San Francisco State University,
After finishing his graduate work, Lachlan taught Education at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Then in 1976, he transitioned to the healthcare industry as director of education at Bethany Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
In Kansas City he met Judy Martin Galbraith, and in 1983 they married.
Lach’s life changed direction in 1984 when he felt the call of God. He began searching for spiritual truth in scriptures and in Christian literature, including the writings of C.S. Lewis. Lach joined Colonial Presbyterian Church in Southern Kansas City, MO and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ the same year. In 1986 he was baptized under the ministry of his father-in-law, Pastor Donald Martin, Ph.D.
In 1985, Galbraith took a position in strategic planning and public relations at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. While in Bangor, Lach hosted a weekend radio show exploring the doctrinal beliefs of various Christian denominations.
Lach transitioned to a position in healthcare marketing at Empire Health Systems in Spokane, WA in 1986. There he pioneered the Ask-a-Nurse nurse triage system.
While in Spokane, Lach and Judy added three children to their family — Paul, Matthew, and Rachel.
Then in 1990, Lach took a position in strategic marketing with National Health Enhancement Systems in Phoenix, AZ. At NHES, he helped develop and market the Centrimax nurse triage system.
After retiring from healthcare marketing in 2002, Lachlan spent 10 years teaching English composition at Paradise Valley Community College.
During his years in Phoenix, Lachlan taught adult Sunday School at Valley Presbyterian Church for five years.
One of the highlights of his life from 2005 to 2012 in Phoenix was his role in team-leading a Christian ministry to refugee families from Ghana and Sierra Leone.
Then in 2016 Lachlan and Judy retired to Lithia, Florida where they have attended Bell Shoals Church and St. Andrews United Methodist Church.
Lachlan battled cancer for 10 years before meeting his savior on April 1, 2022. He spent his last days in the company of family at his home in Lithia. He is survived by
• his wife, Judy, of 38 years;
• son U.S. Army Major Paul Galbraith and wife Mandy, and their children Josiah and Sophia;
• son Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew Galbraith;
• daughter, Rachel Pierson, her husband Justin Pierson and their son, Fox;
• sister, Alix Huntzinger; and
• sister-in-law, Elena Galbraith.
A service for Lachlan will be held at Bell Shoals Church Chapel, 2012 Bell Shoals Road, Brandon, FL 33511, on Thursday, April 28 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the Special Events Center (SEC).
Slideshow: https://youtu.be/80qCg3cogfk
Previous Events
Celebration of Life Service
Thursday
28
Apr
11:00 AM
Bell Shoals Baptist Church
2102 Bell Shoals Road
Brandon, FL 33511
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