Wanda Lee Gallahan Depfer, 70, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, born on December 8, 1955, passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Shenandoah Genesis Healthcare, Charles Town, West Virginia. She was the third of five children born to the late Herbert Addison Gallahan and Losie Butler Gallahan, in Leesburg, Virginia.
She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Donald F. (Corky) Depfer, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; two sisters, Margaret Diane Hough, Round Hill, Virginia, and Nancy Slye, Bluemont, Virginia; two brothers, Herbert Gallahan, Jr. (Ruby), Stephens City, Virginia, and Lawrence Gallahan (Kellie), Pleasant View, Tennessee; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Wanda graduated from Loudoun Valley High School in 1974. She began her career as a telephone operator for C&P Telephone. She was granted a relatively young disability retirement due to complications from lupus. Over the years she was plagued with numerous health-related issues. All the while, she was a caregiver to her husband who is paralyzed and bed-bound after suffering a stroke 30 years ago.
Wanda was known as a “cat lady”. Over the years, she lovingly cared for many strays, and as they passed, she grieved for each one of them as if they were her children. They brought her much enjoyment.
She was a member of the Bolivar Pentecostal Church, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Although she suffered many physical, emotional, and financial trials, she remained faithful in her religious beliefs. She placed her troubles in God’s hands. She operated a food pantry and clothing giveaway for many years at her church. She also held bible school in her home for the local neighbor kids, many of whom grew up and let her know they remembered her teachings.
Many people have helped Wanda and Corky over the years, but the family wishes to express their sincere gratitude and thanks to Connie Hoffman, who helped Wanda in every possible way during the last 4 years after she suffered a stroke and could no longer drive. In addition, a sincere thanks to Paul Harman, a friend from Meals on Wheels, who was truly a great friend who helped Wanda and Corky immensely, especially during the last 6 months.
We will miss Wanda forever, but we are comforted that she is no longer suffering and has received her just reward in Heaven with her Lord and Savior.
Services will be held on March 5, 2026, at 11:00 A.M., at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, 256 Halltown Road, Harpers Ferry, WV. Interment will follow at Fairview Lutheran Cemetery, Bolivar, WV.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home.
For more obituaries visit our obituaries page.
This obituary was published by Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home – Harpers Ferry.
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