Dr. John Frances Galida, 91

CAMPBELL…Dr. John Frances Galida, 91, of Campbell, Ohio, passed away on June 10, 2026, at Mercy Hospice House after a short illness.

John was born in Campbell, Ohio on January 4, 1935, the son of John and Mary (Cebula) Galida and was a lifelong area resident. He met his wife Florence Jean Katula as an infant and they formed an attachment that lasted over 80 years. They married on 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 2 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 theatres with the dental school orchestra in Columbus.

Serving as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, John began his dental practice aboard the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier from 1959 -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's Byzantine Catholic Church, where he enjoyed singing in the choir. He was a member and secretary of the St Michaels 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, The Ohio State Dental Association, Corydon Palmer Dental Society, 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 US 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 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 SC; Lynn Lattimer (Rick) Nelson of Reddding CT; and Joan Fuller of Bozeman, MT; His brothers David (Alice) Galida and William (Ana) Galida. John also leaves 7 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, and 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, Ohio where a Parastas prayer service will be held at 4:30pm on Monday, June 15, 2026 followed by calling hours from 5-7pm. The Panachida will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 10:30am at the funeral home followed by a Divine Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11am at St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in Campbell officiated by The Very Rev. Kevin Marks.

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