Galen Gideon Gallup, fondly known as “Doc,” passed away at his home in Hydesville on February 8, 2020 at age 55 due to complications related to brain cancer treatment. He was born on May 2, 1964 in Roseburg, Ore. where his dad was a minister and his mom was a kindergarten teacher. Doc enjoyed a great childhood playing all kinds of sports before settling on basketball. He spent years playing on many basketball teams including Roseburg High School, Umpqua Community College, Northwest Nazarene College, and both Scotia and church leagues.

Growing up, his family loved to travel and they spent many summers traveling to more than 25 countries all around the world. When he was 12, he had his first hunting experience when he, his dad and brother spent a week in Alaska hunting caribou. They each got a caribou, but Doc’s was the largest.

He met his wife, Becky, at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho and they got married in Fortuna a month after they graduated, when they were 22 and 21 years old. Doc worked for 15 years in the Pacific Lumber Company’s power plant before moving to Florida. In Florida, he worked for ten years as the post office supervisor at Rollins College, where he was beloved by everyone. During his tenure, the college post office earned the distinction of providing the best customer service of any department on campus. Doc was funny and kind beyond words and had a natural way about him of making everyone feel welcome and like family.

He always knew how to make everyone laugh – and this went all the way back to his childhood, where each year his desk had to be right near the teacher’s desk since he was so talkative and was frequently in trouble for being a class clown. This continued into adulthood where his story-telling was more like story-embellishing, all in good fun to make a story more humorous. Many people felt that he may have missed his calling as a stand up comedian. The staff at Rollins College got to experience many years of him as the MC of the annual holiday party, where his quick wit and off the cuff remarks added so much laughter and fun to the event.

He was an absolutely great man and one-of-a-kind friend, husband, father, and grandpa. His family was his number one priority and he made sure to always be available for his kids’ field trips, sporting events, practices, recitals, and church youth group events. He deeply loved and was deeply loved in return. He will be incredibly missed by all who experienced his great personality, sense of humor, friendship, helpfulness, love and laughter.

Doc is survived by Becky (Hill) Gallup, his wife of 33 years; his daughter Heidi Hicks, son-in-law Dalton and granddaughter Callie of Longwood, Fla.; his son Reese Gallup of Hydesville; his son Grant Gallup of Gainesville, Fla.; his father Edward Gallup, Sr. of Hartsville, Tenn. and his brother Edward Gallup, Jr. of Rockvale, Tenn. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Lou Gallup.

A celebration of Doc’s life will be held on Saturday, February 29 at 11 a.m. at the Hydesville Community Church at 3296 Highway 36 in Hydesville, CA. All are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Doc’s memory can be made to the Doc Gallup Memorial Scholarship Fund at Rollins College, where he worked for ten years, impacting students, staff and faculty with his welcoming, friendly, helpful, and positive spirit. Donations toward Doc’s scholarship can be made out to Rollins College and sent to the following address: Rollins College Gifts - Post Office Box 864168 - Orlando, FL 32886-4168; or online giving is available at www.rollins.edu/give (note in memory of Doc Gallup).

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Doc Gallup’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.