Raleigh County - Matthew 25:23 "Well done, good and faithful servant...." On Wednesday, December 10th, 2025, Louie Gall, a good and noble servant to the Lord, to his beloved wife, and to the people of Raleigh County passed away in his 92nd year.

He was the son of immigrants, his parents were the late Louie and Gazella Gall. Louie's siblings were: Mary, Steve, Betty, Helen, Joe, and Margaret Ann.

On November 27th, 1952, Louie married the love of his life, Betty June Bolash. The wedding was a two day Hungarian affair. Senator Robert Byrd played his fiddle at the wedding. Theirs was a great love story. Never having children, Louie and Betty were devoted to each other. Louie and Betty worshiped at Memorial Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and was active in Gideon's International. They were life -long residents of Beckley, one time owner of Gallstone Farms. In later years they wintered in Myrtle Beach. But Beckley would always be home. Betty was always Louie's most ardent supporter and biggest fan of his many endeavors in the field of public service.

On July 27th, 2021, after 69 years of marriage, Betty passed away. Reflecting on her loss, Louie once said, "To the world she was just one person, to me she was my world." Louie never seemed to recover from Betty's death, but he was not morose. He was always pleasant and had that smile. He visited Betty's grave daily. That black SUV parked right at the front gate of Sunset Memorial Park was a fixture there in these last four years. And the words to that old hymn, "Oh Love That Will Let Me Go" so personified the love of Louie and Betty Gall.

Where do you begin to tell the story of Louie Gall. Louis Andrew Gall Jr. was born on July 31st, 1933, at Prenter. His early years were spent on Coal River. Raised in a Hungarian home, Louie spoke fluent Hungarian by the age of nine. He attended Whitesville Elementary School, graduating from Trap Hill School in 1951. Louie would begin working for his father at Galls Service Station at the age of 12. After graduating from high school, Louie went to the Raleigh County Vocational school where he studied auto mechanic, first working for General Motors in Cleveland, then returning to West Virginia working for Esso Standard Oil on the turnpike. In 1966, he pursued an Associate's degree at Beckley College while working fulltime for Beckley Auto Supply as manager. Louie wanted to further his education. In 1969 he graduated from Morris Harvey College with a BA degree in education. His teaching career would begin at Bradley Elementary where he taught 4th and 5th grade. He taught there until 1973. Pursuing his principal papers, he became an elementary school principal at Rhodell Elementary School moving on to Central Elementary, then Maxwell Hill Elementary retiring as Special Education Assistant Director of Raleigh County schools in 1994 with 26 years in the field of education. Louie was active in WVEA , RCEA and the Raleigh County Elementary Principal's Association. Louie Gall was a self- made man.

He held past memberships in : Beckley Masonic Lodge #95 FM & AM, Scottish Rites #32, Beckley Shrine Club and Beni Kedem Temple Shrine, Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, Trap Hill Lions Club (charter member) Bradley Lions Club, Beckley Moose Club, Beckley Elks Club, Beckley Civitan Club, Beckley Autism, Raleigh County Ambulance Authority, Lake Stevens Authority, the College of WV Alumni Board, Raleigh County Library Board, RESA Board, FMRS Mental Health Board, EOC-911, Beckley Rotary Club, Selective Service Draft Board, American Red Cross, and the FMRS Mental Housing Board.

Louie was fascinated by politics. He first got interested when he became a member of the Raleigh County Young Democrat Club in 1958. He ran for Justice of the Peace, Trap Hill District, serving from 1960 to 1969. It was during this time he became in involved with the West Virginia State Young Democrat Executive Committee, becoming vice president in 1967, eventually elected as president of the organization. It was during this time Louie was a West Virginia delegate to the funeral of our late martyred president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963. Louie was very moved by the event. He would eventually serve on the Democrat Executive Committee, where he was the executive chairman and treasurer. In 1994, he was elected to serve on the Raleigh County Board of Education.

In 1986, Louie was recognized for his continual efforts in the field of public service by being selected as Democrat of the Year in Raleigh County. His appointments were to the Governor s Commission of Higher Education and the Transition Team of the Raleigh County Democrat Executive Committee. Louie was president appointed to the United State Selective Service and was appointed to the Committee of Higher Education by Governor Joe Manchin and was appointed to the House of Delegates to fill a vacated seat in 2007. He was honored to meet presidents Johnson, Carter and Clinton.

And so, it has been a life well lived. A life of public service, a belief in education for all young people and "while you're here," do something worth- while for others. And in death our dear Louie does. His entire estate has been bequeathed to the Hospice of Southern West Virginia.

This coming Monday, December 15th, we will honor the life of Louie Gall with a "Service of Remembrance" in the Melton Mortuary Chapel at 1:00 pm. Friends may call at 12 noon. The Rev. Dewey Lowe will be officiating. And now "Oh Love That Will Not Let Go," has been fulfilled. There will be no more partings. Louie will be laid to rest in the Gall family plot at Sunset Memorial Park beside his beloved Betty. Four Christmases apart and now together again, the words, "Sleep in Heavenly Peace" will have such a different meaning this Christmas for this kind and loving couple.