Louie J. Galaz

Louie J. Galaz

“Cowboy Lou”

1926-2023

Louie (96) passed away peacefully at home on May 16th, 2023. He was born in Long Beach, CA on September 2, 1926, and grew up on a working cattle ranch off of Pacific Avenue with his ten siblings and his parents, Casimiro and Pilar. It was in those early days he fell in love with the cowboy life he’d embody forever. He and his friends spent their days riding horses, herding cattle across Southern California, and competing in rodeos. As a teenager, he attended LB Poly High School.

Lou joined the service in 1944, lying about his age to enlist and serve his country. Assigned to the US Navy Armed Guard, he sailed around the world on the merchant ship S.S. John Cabot. Fresh out of the service, Lou took a bus straight to the Coca-Cola Bottling Company headquarters in Long Beach. Over his forty-five years there, Lou was instrumental in installing the syrup lines at Disneyland, the 1984 Olympic Games, Angels Stadium in Anaheim, and Hollywood movie sets.

Lou’s life changed forever in a local bowling alley when he met the love of his life, Betty. They were married at Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, and their love story continued over the next fifty years. The two were inseparable, constantly making each other laugh, taking trips to Hawaii or Vegas or camping trips in their infamous trailer, and hosting parties for their friends. They were partners in every sense of the word: they did the dishes together, they gardened together, they grocery shopped together, and they never took a single trip without each other. Lou would fill Betty’s car up without asking, and he’d dance all night with her despite not enjoying dancing in the first place.

In October of 1963, their daughter Cynthia was born. He was the best dad in the whole world. There wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for his daughter or her friends. Lou taught Cindy love and kindness. He loved freely and deeply; remembering the names of everyone he met, treating animals and all living things with grace and care, and having a joke or a smile for anyone he interacted with.

He is preceded in death by his wife Betty, son Robert (Bob) Orcutt, and grandsons Richard Astin and Robert Orcutt. He is survived by his daughter Kathleen Torres (Jerry), daughter Cynthia “Cindy” Howard, (Martin), daughter in law, Ruth Orcutt, grandchildren, Christine Orcutt, Tiffany Torres, Caitlin Bowman (Scott), Michael Howard, Liam Howard, eleven great-grandchildren, and many loving friends.

Viewing will be held on Monday, May 22nd from 5 to 7 PM at Luyben Dilday 5161 E Arbor Rd Long Beach, CA. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, May 23rd at 1 PM at St Joseph  Catholic Church, 220 Willow St Long Beach, CA. Private burial to follow at a later date.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401