William G. Callow Sr., 80, of Baker City, died Feb. 2, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Julian Cassar of St. Francis de Sales will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St.
William was born on Aug. 12, 1927, at Okmulgee, Okla., to Don Charles and Sadie Kesler Callow. On Valentine’s Day in 1953, William married Barbara Twohig in Southern California. In 1962, Bill and Barbara moved with their five children to northern California, settling in Cupertino.
Family members fondly recall a memorable trip driving from Los Angeles to San Jose in the Rambler station wagon as they were moving from Bellflower to San Jose. Barbara and the girls took the train while Bill took the three boys and the dog, Princess. It was one long trip, but a fun one, they said.
In 1990, after retiring Bill and Barbara moved to Baker City. They enjoyed the beautiful community together until Barbara died on Oct. 6, 2007.
Bill was a wonderful man and father, stern but loving, his family said. He was always there for his family and provided for them to the best of his ability. He taught his children to enjoy what they had, and they never went without.
No matter how busy he was working two jobs to support his family he always had time for his kids. Somehow, he found time to teach Pat, Kevin and Bill Jr. baseball and even coached their teams. He had a slight problem teaching his southpaw daughter, Kate, to play but he did with his sons’ help.
The apple of his eye though was the youngest of the five children, Michelle. She was his baby girl and would always be. He taught his children that learning to play the game and have fun was more important than winning.
He also taught his family the value of a dollar and of hard but honest work. Bill helped his kids learn how to raise and care for rabbits and chickens and even taught them how to grow the biggest zucchini you ever saw.
He was a handyman and was able to teach his boys how to work on and keep their cars running – and his too. He also worked on and taught his sons how to repair TVs. One thing he always told his boys was that a man’s word is his bond and that a man is only as good as his word. Bill always placed his kids first and for that, they will always love him, they said.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; and his daughter, Kathryn “Kate” Jackson.
Survivors include his children, Bill Callow Jr. of San Mateo, Calif., Patrick Callow and his wife, Vena, of Baker City, Kevin Callow and his wife, Jan, of White Salmon, Wash., and Michelle Paoletti and her husband, Eric, of Baker City; grandchildren, Brandon Jackson of Ravina, Mich., Meagan Paoletti of Baker City, Aharon, Jegar and Neal LaGrander of White Salmon, Wash.
Memorial contributions may be made to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) through Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 7, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor