Dorothy Georgia Galivan

Dorothy Galivan, 89, died Sept. 8, 2007, at Whidbey General Hospital following a short illness. She was born Oct. 7, 1917, in New Haven, Conn., to Constantine and Erifilie Kougelis Georgalas. Later Dorothy’s family moved to New York City. There Dorothy and her two brothers, Theodore and Arthur, were raised by their mother, a single parent. Dorothy earned money by translating and interpreting for ladies in the Greek community. She later went to trade school and learned to make ladies hats.

Dorothy met Lyle Galivan while his U.S. Navy ship ported in NYC. Dorothy traveled to Port Angeles to meet Lyle’s parents who did not know she was coming. She recalled getting rides from different people to get there because there was no scheduled bus service to Port Angeles. Lyle and Dorothy were married in Modesto, Calif., in 1944. Their first child Terry was born in Bremerton where Lyle was stationed. The girls, Lee and Irene, were born in Norfolk, Va. They traveled with the Navy and eventually wound up at NAS Whidbey. They liked the area and decided to make this their home while Lyle finished his naval career. Lyle retired in 1960. Dorothy’s mother, YiaYia, came to live with the family shortly after they were settled in Oak Harbor. She lived with them until her death in 1966.

Dorothy worked at the Navy Exchange for 20 years, retiring in 1979. She enjoyed working with people and was well loved. She was known for being a good cook and enjoyed sharing her favorite Greek foods. Dinner at the Galivan household was accompanied by Greek music and it was a celebration when company came. This usually meant a trip to the Greek Orthodox Church for church services or to visit her dear friend Filitsa and husband Mike Demopoulos in Anacortes.

Dorothy and Lyle were active with the Oak Harbor Senior Center band, the Silvertones. Lyle played the banjo and Dorothy played the kazoo. She was an active member of the Senior Center. She loved to travel and the isle of Lesbos city of Mytilene, Greece, her mother’s birthplace, was her favorite destination.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter Lee Kolden with husband Roger of Oak Harbor, son-in-law Noel Shima of Juneau, grandchildren Erin Carlberg, Sarah Woodruff, Christian Kolden and Jason Shima, and five great-grandchildren, Bailey, Megan, Emma and Parker Carlberg, and Owen Woodruf. She was preceded in death by her son Terry in 1993, her husband Lyle in 2003, her daughter Irene Shima in 2005 and her granddaughter Anne Shima in 2006.

Dorothy valued her relationship with each person. Her final prayer, “Come Lord Jesus,” was granted.

A Greek Orthodox service will be held for Dorothy at Burley Funeral Chapel on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m., followed by a reception and then a burial at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.