Callen, Richard W. "Bill", 93 passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 in Broken Arrow, OK. Bill was born on October 7, 1921 in Oil City, PA to William Roscoe Callen and Goldie Delphine (Baker) Callen.
Bill married the love of his life, Loretta Ruth (Doll) Callen on June 18, 1955 in Lakewood, CA. Bill is survived by his 4 daughters and their families: Cheryl Stutsman, Broken Arrow, OK, Gail Neff-Gordon, Broken Arrow, OK, Joyce Huckabay, Norman, OK, Nancy Callen, Tulsa, OK and his "bonus" daughter, Melanie Haines, Tulsa, OK. Bill is also survived by his sister, Lois Prall, Fallsbrook, CA, his brother, John Callen, Columbus, OH, his sister-in-law, Jo Lee Doll, Midlothian, VA and one aunt, Pauline (Baker) Benton, Oil City, PA as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins located throughout the United States and Canada. Bill was blessed with 9 grandchildren: Amy, Ryan and Erik Stutsman, Catherine Brooke (Neff) Hale and her husband Nathaniel, Joseph and Jacob Gordon, Stevy (Huckabay) Robinson and her husband Andre, and Samantha and Christopher Huckabay as well as 3 great-grandchildren: Evan Robinson, Hudson and Asher Hale.
After graduating from Guys Mills, PA High School in 1940, Bill worked as a Farmer with his Father on their 70-acre farm before enlisting in the Army Air Corp on June 2, 1942. After attending boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi, He was assigned to the 31st Depot Repair Squadron and served as an airplane and engine mechanic in Italy where he performed necessary inspection and maintenance on the fighter planes. He was discharged on December 7, 1945 and received: The Good Conduct Medal, The American Campaign Medal, and The Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Star, The World War II Victory Medal, and the European African Campaign Medal.
After returning from Italy, Bill joined his family in California and began working at North American Aviation in Long Beach, CA. Shortly after his Father's death in 1954, he met Loretta at a skating rink. Due to their age difference, they lied to her parents about his age. Loretta's Mother, Catherine said she wasn't fooled! Bill and Loretta married in 1955 and all four of their daughters were born in California. Six weeks after Nancy's birth in 1964, Bill was transferred to Tulsa, much to Loretta's dismay. They packed up their young daughters, left their families in California and traveled to Oklahoma. Loretta's only request for the move was that they purchase a brick house. Bill honored her request and purchased a house outside the Tulsa city limits near 61st and Memorial.
After leaving North American Rockwell in the early 1970's, Bill had several jobs and retired on several occasions. He was called out of his last retirement in 1996 to assist with the start-up of a new company, Bonavista Technologies, by his good friend Gary Ferrell. His temporary, part time job turned into a full time job until his health forced him to quit working at age 92.
Bill had a life-long love of learning and attended many universities including Penn State, The University of Tulsa and Long Beach State.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta in December 2007, his parents and his sister, Nina Thomas.
The family would like to thank Memorial Drive UMC for their love and support of our family for the last 50 years, Bona Vista Technologies, Mr. Gary Ferrell, and all the folks at Bonavista that made Dad part of their Family, Senior Suites, Broken Arrow, OK for their love and caring of our Father for the last six months of his life and St. Francis Hospice for their assistance in the last days of his life.
In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to Honor Flight Network at honorflight.org or Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, Tulsa, OK.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 23, 2015 at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 7903 East 15th Street, Tulsa, OK. Services are under the direction of Moore's Southlawn Chapel – 918-663-2233.