Rodney Paul Gallagher

Rodney Paul Gallagher was born April 18, 1953, in Topeka, Kansas, to John Paul Gallagher and Ruby Fern Howard Gallagher. He died Wednesday, December 31, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 72 years, with his daughter and grandson by his side. Rod completed his secondary education in Owasso, Oklahoma, and was a graduate of Owasso High School. He continued his education at the University of Tulsa where he earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering. Rod was married August 24, 1974, in Owasso to Vicki Lynn Burdine. They lived in Owasso at that time before making their home in Tulsa. Rod’s extensive professional career began at Public Service of Oklahoma as a student engineer in the Power System Planning department. He then moved to the new PSO Energy Control Center to work in Telecom Engineering as a software engineer and for a new dispatch master computer system that monitored the electric transmission grid. He became an expert programmer and worked with the computer system manufacturer TRW and Ferranti Controls to optimize their systems. During the 1990’s, Rod moved into various Telecom management positions within Central and Southwest (PSO’s parent company) including Telecom Engineering and Command Center Operations. He then became manager of a new group called Control and Monitoring. Central and Southwest merged with American Electric Power in 2000, at which time Rod became the Senior Consultant for the reorganized management now known as AEP Telecom. His retirement in 2010 was short lived as his assistance was requested to help with the distribution automation projects as a contractor to develop and test software for AEP Telecom. He retired once again in 2019. Rod enjoyed a variety of pastimes including bowling and golfing, but especially astronomy. He was an excellent bowler and well known throughout the Tulsa area. He was a member of the United States Bowling Congress. Rod also enjoyed studying astronomy and was active with the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club, the Astronomy Club of Tulsa, and the Okie Tex Star Party. Rod was also an accomplished musician and enjoyed playing the guitar. Those he leaves behind who hold a lifetime of memories include: Daughter; Kathleen “Katy” Lynn Gallagher Grandson; Damien Cain Gallagher Mother; Ruby Fern Gallagher He was preceded in death by his wife Vicki Gallagher and his father, John Gallagher. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2026, at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso. Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Mowery Funeral Service Chapel with Pastor Tim Prock officiating. Serving as casket bearers will be Damien Gallagher, Stanley Davis, Gerald Miller, Cliff Vann, Mark D’Arcy, and Blaine Baker. Committal service and interment will follow at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The family requests memorial contributions be made in Rod’s memory to the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club, www.okcastroclub.com. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com

Rodney Paul Gallagher

April 18, 1953 - December 31, 2025