Walter J. Gallagher, 89, of Butler died Sunday at the Ellwood City Hospital.

He was born June 15, 1920, in Butler, a son of the late John and Anna Williams Gallagher.

Walter retired in 1978 as a foreman in the melt shop at Butler Armco.

He was member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic church in Butler and Alcoholics Anonymous with 42 years of sobriety.

His wife, Mary E. Weichey, who he married Feb. 24, 1941, preceded him in death Nov. 16, 2005. Two brothers and two sisters also preceded him.

Surviving are two daughters, Shirley Stepp of Butler and Nancy Collier and her husband, Kenneth Collier Jr., also of Butler; one sister and her husband, Patricia and John Swidzinski of Butler; one brother and his wife, Edward and Irene Gallagher of Slippery Rock; two grandchildren and their spouses, Tiffany and Jonathan Valentino and Brian and Kimberly Collier, all of Chicora; and two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Amelia Valentino.

<B>GALLAGHER </B>—<B> </B>There will be no public visitation. A Mass of Christian burial for Walter J. Gallagher, who died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday from the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler with Father Steven Neff, pastor, officiating. Entombment will follow at the Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.The St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:40 a.m. Thursday at the church to recite the rosary.Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, PA 16001.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.