Bill Galusha

William “Bill” Edward Galusha, 84, of Abilene, TX, passed away on September 26, 2016, at 3:28 pm in Abilene, Texas. Bill was born in Casper, Wyoming to Ada and John Galusha on April 23, 1932. Bill and his brother Rodney attended schools in Casper until 1947. During World War II while men were at war, Bill was introduced to the ‘cowboy’ lifestyle at the age of 12 when he began working a summer job at the 350,000 acre Buzzard Ranch in Wyoming. Bill belonged to the Casper Boxing Club and won the Wyoming Golden Gloves Open Division at the age of 14. The family moved to Abilene, Texas when Bill was in Junior High. He attended Abilene High School and was involved in multiple sports including football, basketball and track. Bill graduated from Abilene High School in 1950 and as a result of his outstanding performance as a fullback on the 1949 Abilene High School football team he earned a full ride scholarship to the University of Wyoming. Bill married Marilyn Guitar of Abilene on November 19, 1950 and they were married almost 66 years. During the course of raising six boys and three girls they resided in Odessa, Abilene and ending up in Clyde, Texas where he rode and trained cutting horses. They moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1969 where Bill, who was a natural born salesman and entrepreneur, owned and operated the Martin’s Boots and Saddlery western wear stores. He took great pride in his stores, filling them with the latest and greatest boots, hats and tack. He became friends with numerous celebrities from across the country, including many rock stars from the Caribou Ranch Recording Studio outside Boulder who would frequent his stores for the newest trends in western wear. During his time in Colorado he also continued to ride and train cutting horses. In 1988 Bill sold his stores and moved to Washington on the Brazos near Brenham, Texas where they purchased a ranch and raised Hereford cattle. They sold that ranch and purchased Lytle Gap Ranch just outside of Abilene, Texas in 1995 where they resided until moving into Abilene in 2002. Bill Galusha was involved with and supported the local high school football programs, rarely missing a game or practice of his grandsons Rob and Will Galusha. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Ada and John Galusha, his brother Rodney Galusha, his sons Bill Galusha, Jr. and Robbin Galusha, his daughter Mary Nell Sansom, and his daughter-in-law Linda Galusha. Bill is survived by his wife, Marilyn Guitar Galusha of Abilene, his children and their spouses, Jane and Dean Squires of Abilene, TX, Jim and Sharron Galusha of Prescott, AZ, Scott Galusha of Abilene, TX, Dr. Repps Galusha of Winter Garden, FL, Richard and Shirley Galusha of Steamboat Springs, CO, Ginger Galusha of Denver, CO, and son-in-law Robert Sansom of Dripping Springs, TX. Bill is also survived by many grandchildren and their spouses; Robert and Katie Galusha, Will and Mallory Galusha, Kathy and Mike Vodarsik, Deidra and Walter Mathis, Robert Carroll, Bill Garrison, Carrie Garrison, Keith Garrison, Taylor and Shane Woolery, Chris Traynor, 20 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Pallbearers will be his sons Jim Galusha, Scott Galusha, Dr. Repps Galusha, Richard Galusha, and his grandsons Rob Galusha and Will Galusha. The family of Bill Galusha wishes to extend our sincere thanks to his caregivers, Ben Hines, Dawn and Linda Zimmerlee, Rusty Munoz, and Sharlene Johnson, for their care and devotion to Bill. Memorials may be given to a charity of the donor’s choice. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene, TX 79606, 325-692-2232, with Dr. Jeff Reid of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery, 5701 Hwy. 277 South, Abilene, TX 79606.