John F. Galida 1935-2026

John was born Jan. 4, 1935, in Campbell, a son of John and Mary Cebula Galida. He was a lifelong area resident.

John met his wife, Florence Jean Katula, as an infant, and they formed an attachment that lasted over 80 years. They married June 27, 1959, and shared 63 loving years before her passing.

John was a 1952 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School. He attended Youngstown College for two years before transferring to Ohio State University and completing dental school in 1959. He loved music and played the clarinet in band during high school and continued throughout college, playing in a polka orchestra in Youngstown and at various theaters with the dental school orchestra in Columbus.

Serving as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, John began his dental practice aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Oriskany, from 1959 to 1961.

After leaving the Navy, he started his dental practice in Campbell and served patients in the area for over 50 years. During that time, he sponsored several local sports teams, including “Galidas” for the Campbell Girls Softball League, which he and his wife, Florence, helped establish.

John was a lifelong member of St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, where he enjoyed singing in the choir. He was a member and secretary of the St. Michael’s Civic Club.

He was very proud to be a United States veteran and served for several years with the Campbell American Legion Honor Guard, participating in yearly celebrations around town and for high school football games. He was also a member of the Campbell gridiron and alumni associations; the American Dental Association and the Corydon Palmer Dental Society; the Ohio Dental Association (Ohio State); and the Ohio State Alumni Association.

John loved spending summers at his cabin on Lake Latonka and later in life, visiting and vacationing with his children and grandchildren across the country. He also enjoyed vacations with friends, traveling throughout Alaska, Nova Scotia and several U.S. states and national parks. He enjoyed Ohio State football and especially loved the “dotting of the i” during Script Ohio band performances.

John cultivated a love of gardening in his later years and often spent summers tending to his vegetables. John also developed a passion for woodworking and began carving ducks and birds, which he entered in various competitions in the Northeast United States. He expanded his talents to relief carving, creating exceptional religious icons as well as personal items for family and friends. A favorite Christmas gift among family was the annual Santa woodcarving.

John will be forever remembered by his three daughters, Gale (Blanding) Ross of Columbia, South Carolina, Lynn Lattimer (Rick) Nelson of Redding, Connecticut, and Joan Fuller of Bozeman, Montana; and his brothers, David (Alice) Galida and William (Ana) Galida. John also leaves seven grandchildren, Michael Livosky Jr., Seth (Kelsey) Fuller, Andrew (Meghan) Lattimer, Kaitlyn (Alex) Pellegrini, Carly Lattimer, Jessica Ross and Lara (Dennis) Jackson; and 11 great-grandchildren, as well as other family and friends.

Besides his parents and wife, John was preceded in death by his sisters-in-law, Carol (Palen) Galida, Patricia (Vargo) Galida and Gloria Katula; nephew, Stephen Galida; niece, Sharon Galida Douglas; and great-niece, Sara Lopez.

The Galida family has entrusted John’s care to the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell, where a Parastas prayer service will take place 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2026, followed by calling hours from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Panachida will begin 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the funeral home, and be followed by a Divine Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, Campbell. The liturgy will be officiated by the Very Rev. Kevin Marks.

John will be laid to rest beside his wife in St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Cemetery, Campbell.

Please visit www.waskofamily.com to view this obituary and leave condolences with the Galida family.

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