Wisner Avery Galbraith
Wisner Avery Galbraith (Avery) passed away on July 14, 2020 in Santa Barbara, California. Avery was born in Pontiac, Michigan on October 25, 1939. He was the second child born to Wisner and Mary Ellen (Webster) Galbraith. Avery spent his early years in Michigan and after the death of his father, his mother moved with her four children (Clinton “Chief,” Avery, Steven, and Lady Mary) to Santa Barbara to pursue a job in teaching.
Avery attended local schools and made many close, life long friendships. He graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1957. As a young man, Avery was very active in desert motorcycle racing and at one point he and his brother built the Phantom Bantam, a drag car which broke the standard 1320 record of the time. Through his own hard work, Avery became a mechanical engineer and worked at Astro Industries, Santa Barbara Research Center, and he later retired from Raytheon. He was an avid reader and collector of model airplanes, books, and records. Additionally, Avery was active in the Cursillo and Kairos movements. Avery enjoyed photography, motorcycle racing (in his youth), reading books, and listening to music, as well as spending time with family and friends. You could often find him enjoying breakfast or lunch with his buddies while talking history, political issues, and life experiences.
Avery is survived by his son, Robert Galbraith (Erin) and daughter, Suzy Galbraith and five grandchildren; Sierra, Kailyn, Ava, Alaina, and Roman, as well as his brother Chief, former wife Jane, and several nephews and nieces. If you were lucky enough to have known Avery, you know he had a kind spirit, an enjoyable humor, and a contagious laugh. He will truly be missed by all who loved him.
A celebration of Avery’s life will be held at a future date at a local park.