Beverly Ann (Hull) Gallatin, age 98, of Edwardsville, Illinois died October 25, 2026, at Evertrue - Meridian Village Care Center in Glen Carbon, IL, under the care of hospice services. A native of Burlington, Iowa, she was the longest living member of her family within distant memory; surpassing her celebrated husband's lifespan by a remarkable 11 years.
A devoted wife for 66 years, mother of three active boys, grandmother of eight, great grandmother of seven, physical education teacher, avid bowler and golfer, and accomplished card player, Beverly led a long and colorful life.
Her long life was punctuated by her extensive moving history, having made the last of 38 moves as recently as this year. In their early years she and her husband Harry, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame basketball player and coach, moved frequently in response to his athletic, educational, and career opportunities. They started their journey as a married couple in New York City, living at the Belvedere Hotel across the street from Madison Square Garden, and ended after 66 years in Edwardsville while covering thousands of miles in-between.
Beverly graduated from Burlington High School in 1946 and chose to attend Northeast Missouri State Teacher's College, now Truman State University, in Missouri. It was there she met her future husband who attended on the G I Bill and a basketball scholarship following his service in the Navy at the end of WWII.
Seated at a college orientation meeting in alphabetical order, Gallatin and Hull met by circumstance but discovered a lifelong attraction that led to marriage. She graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. Her collegiate choice determined the pathway to the rest of her life.
Beverly was born on February 21, 1928, to Ralph and Vera Hull of Burlington, Iowa. Her father worked for the Farmers and Merchants Bank and taught her bookkeeping, a skill she employed throughout her lifetime. She routinely managed the Gallatin family's financial transactions, keeping ledgers, and consistently balancing her checkbook “to the penny”. If it didn't balance the bank was on notice.
In college, she was a member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Women's Athletic Association and the Howler's Club that attended games to cheer on the teams, actively participating in various collegiate activities. After games the school traditionally hired a local dance band to play in the reception hall below the gym.
It was the swing era in American music with Glen Miller's big band performances and recordings. Dancing the jitterbug was all the rage. Socialization after games led to close and enduring friendships. She maintained relationships with many of her college friends and often returned with Harry to their Alma Mater for the university's Homecoming celebrations. In 2002 they were honored to serve as Grand Marshals for the Homecoming Parade.
The Gallatin family, consisting of sons Steve, Jim, and Bill, moved to Edwardsville in 1967 following Harry's professional career where he began working for the fledgling Southern Illinois University as the Athletic Director, Dean of Students, Tower Lake Director, first head basketball coach, and first head golf coach. Beverly was finally able to use her teaching degree, working various P.E. assignments for the Edwardsville School District for several years.
Once settled, they established the family with the First Presbyterian Church of Edwardsville and the Sunset Hills Country Club, remaining lifelong members and devout golfers.
Beverly became a Charter Member of the local P.E.O. Organization where she made steadfast friends, served as an officer, and remained dedicated to the club's cause throughout her life. She was the last surviving charter member of the organization.
Beverly and Harry were snowbirds who spent their winters in Florida and traveled frequently after Harry's retirement for golfing, and eventually vacationing in Canada and Europe in the 90s with close friends.
Beverly was married on September 25, 1949, in Burlington, Iowa, at the First Presbyterian Church to Harry J. Gallatin, her college sweetheart. The couple celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in 2015. She was preceded in death by all her contemporary relatives; her husband in 2015 age 88, a sister-in-law, Eileen Palmer, of Longwood, Florida in 2018 age 93, and her brother, Ralph Laverne Hull, of Des Moines, Iowa in 2021, age 97.
She is survived by her three sons, Steven (Barbara) Gallatin, of Edwardsville, James (Suzanne) Gallatin, of Highland, and William (Terri) Gallatin, of St. George, Utah; 8 grandchildren, Aaron Gallatin, Stacey Gallatin (Shannon Urban), Jeremy (Christina) Gallatin, Emily (Adam) Geerts, Benjamin (Nikki) Gallatin and Amanda Gallatin (Aaron Hughes), and Ross (Amanda) Gallatin and Erik (Danielle) Gallatin; 7 great grandchildren, Nathan Satterfield, Zachary Kofrin, Abigail and Matthew Gallatin, Ava and Griffin Geerts, and Blakely Gallatin.
Visitation will be from 9:30 am to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Weber & Rodney Funeral Home in Edwardsville followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Dr. John Hembruch officiating. Interment will be at Sunset Hills Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon. Memorials may be donated to the Edwardsville P.E.O., the Harry Gallatin Golf Training Facility at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville through SIUE Foundation, or the First Presbyterian Church of Edwardsville. Condolences may be expressed online at weberfuneralhome.com.