Harold Galbraith Obituary

In the early morning hours of November 8, 2024, Robert Harold Galbraith, Sr., 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Harold was born on July 14,1945 in Providence, KY to the late Dorothy Head Galbraith and late William Robert Galbraith. He married Mary Campbell Galbraith of Benton, KY, on June 10,1966. Harold and Mary were married for 58 years. He resided in Clarksville, TN for over 30 years.

Harold earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and his master’s degree in Medical Physics from the University of Cincinnati. Among his many accomplishments, Harold was a board certified medical physicist that worked tirelessly alongside a pioneering team at St. Jude’s’s Children’s Research Hospital to derive numerous radiation therapies to treat children diagnosed with cancer. He was part of a team that designed and facilitated the establishment of cancer care facilities for Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, KY; Clarksville Memorial Hospital in Clarksville, TN; and University Medical Center in Lebanon, TN. He also served as medical physicist for King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Harold was instrumental in the inception of Prosticare, a seed implant company, and Radiological Physics Associates, a Nashville-based group devoted to providing physics services throughout Tennessee and other southern states.

Outside of his role as a medical physicist, Harold also served as an assistant professor at West Virginia University, the University of Tennessee-Memphis, and State Technical Institute at Memphis.

Harold’s marriage to Mary and the loving tight-knit family they built together were his greatest prides in life. He had a unique, quirky wit and displayed compassion, kindness, and resiliency that made him a one-of-a-kind source of inspiration to his family and friends. Harold had a knack for uplifting spirits and encouraging those around him in a way none could ever hope to match. Something as small as a slight gesture was sometimes enough to fill a room with laughter. People enjoyed his mischievous (and perhaps sometimes slightly embellished) tales from his youth. His magnanimous personality resounds within the soul of his family, and the evergiving love he graciously showed leaves indelible imprints upon the hearts of those he loved most of all.

He perpetually strove to remain a steadfast beacon of faith that modeled Christ’s teachings in everything he accomplished. Harold served as an elder in the LORD’S church at Madison Street Church of Christ and at Hilldale Church of Christ. Throughout his time serving as an elder of the church, he impacted the lives of countless congregants and championed the virtues of a devout, Christ-centered life. Harold’s background as a medical physicist offered him a knowledgeable perspective into the hardships that an individual diagnosed with cancer faces on a daily basis, allowing him to effectively minister and provide comfort to brothers and sisters in Christ battling their diagnoses.

Harold was the beloved father to Robert Harold (Kelly) Galbraith, Jr., Michele Butler, Cindy (Shawn) Kircher, and Alicia (Jeff) McQueen. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren in whom he took immense pride: Hunter (Melany) Galbraith, Drew Kircher, Sarah Catherine Galbraith, Ansley Kircher, Lily Butler, Wyatt McQueen, and Camille McQueen. He is also survived by his loving mother-in-law, Flora Campbell Clerkin.

The family will receive friends at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 12:30- 2:30 p.m. Following the visitation, a graveside service for friends and family will be held at Greenwood Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Rob Galbraith, Shawn Kircher, Jeff McQueen, Hunter Galbraith, Drew Kircher, and Wyatt McQueen.

In memoriam of Harold Galbraith, and in lieu of sending flowers, the family asks you to consider supporting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and/or the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. Links to both organizations are listed below.

The family would like to recognize and show gratitude to those who cared for, encouraged, and supported Harold. Special thanks to Meghan Hatfield from Tennova Hospice and the team at Tennessee Oncology. 

https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?msockid=26779270d9086002089b80ced82461f8

https://www.disasterreliefeffort.org