Ralph J. McCallister Jr., 83, died Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010, at National Health Care in West Plains.
He was born April 8, 1927, near Summersville, son of Ralph N. Sr. and Golda J. Foulk McCallister. He and Daphne Cooper were married Aug. 15, 1948. He later married Bessie Faye Barnes Bryant on Aug. 30, 1971.
He graduated from Summersville High School in 1945 and immediately entered the Army. He served in the European Theater until he was wounded and returned to the Army Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for rehabilitation. He was discharged after World War II and returned to Texas County, where he was employed as deputy sheriff.
He then moved to Houston, Texas, where he worked 20 years for Shell Oil Co.. He formed a construction company in Houston, Texas, that later merged with Don Love Construction. He became the general superintendent and served there until his health problems forced his retirement.
He and his wife moved back to Summersville. He loved carpentry and devoted many hours to family, neighbors and friends.
He accepted Christ as his Savior on May 30, 1947, after returning from World War II. He was baptized into First Baptist Church Summersville, where he served as long as his health permitted.
Survivors include his wife, Bessie of the home; a son, David Keith McCallister of Fort Wayne, Ind.; a daughter, Linda Kay McCallister Edmonton of Alberta, Canada; a brother, Paul of Houston; a sister, Roena of Summersville; three nephews; two nieces; three stepsons, Thurlow Barnes, Carl Ray Barnes and Bob Barnes of Summersville; two stepdaughters, Wanda Sokol of Houston, Texas, and Rhonda Irey of Leesville, La.; and numerous step-grandchildren.
Services were Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Bradford Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tommy Boyd officiating. Burial with full military honors were in Bethel Cemetery.