August 12, 2021

It’s not every day you get to wish someone a happy 100th birthday, but that’s what we do today for Galilee member Sally Howland. 

Happy birthday, Sally! We love you.

Sally has been a Galilee member for 60 years. Here she is with her daughter Gail and three fans from the congregation

Sara “Sally” Natalie Tripp was born on August 12, 1921 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. One of three children, her family attended the the Trinity Methodist Church. Her parents instilled the importance of service into Sally at an early age and she trained at St Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford to become a nurse. During the Second World War, Sally served in the European theater as a member of the US Army Nurse Corps. She was stationed in Iceland, England, and France and cared for the wounded at the invasion of Normandy.

It was during the war that Sally met her husband, Ezra Howland. They met in a canteen in Paris, which is pretty funny because Ezra was from New Bedford, too. They were married on August 23, 1947 and renewed their vows at Gailee on their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997.

The couple moved to Falls Church early in their married life and Sally was a stay at home mom to her three daughters until 1964, when she restarted her nursing career at Loudoun Memorial Hospital. Her speciality was obstetrics and she was Supervisor of Labor and Delivery at LMH for 18 years, creating and designing the first Birthing Room in Northern Virginia.

Ezra and Sally had many adventures (as if Normandy and sixty years of marriage wasn’t enough). They also enjoyed motorcycling and RV-ing

Like a good labor and delivery nurse, Sally was present at the birth of Galilee. She and the family moved to Sterling in 1961, and their first Sunday at Galilee was “Charter Sunday.” Over sixty years, Sally has served on the Trustees, Finance, and Building Committees. She’s also created many of the banners that grace the sanctuary walls.  

And if you think that Sally Howland is just a nice church lady, she and Ezra also crossed the country on a motorcycle THREE TIMES. That’s in addition to taking a motor home to Alaska and Mexico.

Sally made many of the banners that grace our sanctuary walls

Since retiring from Loudoun Memorial Hospital, Sally has enjoyed quilting. She made the tree quilt that hangs in the Galilee narthex, which incorporates the names of many families to tell something of the history of our church. She has also made quilts for friends and family, as well as for good causes like Wounded Warriors and the oncology unit at Loudoun Inova. 

Wow, Sally! We’re so thankful to have you at Galilee. You and your family have been such a blessing to our church. 

Happy birthday! 

“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”

• Numbers 6:24-26