Dan Calloway

After a long illness, Sineous Danford “Dan” Calloway Jr. of Vestavia Hills, age eighty-six , passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 13th, 2020. He was born on July 26, 1933 in Webb, Alabama to Minnie Rhodes Calloway and Sineous Danford Calloway Sr. He was a member of Bluff Park Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by Michael Ledon Calloway (son), Minnie Rhodes Calloway (mother) and Sineous Danford Calloway Sr.(father), Barnett Calloway (brother), Verna Calloway Lambert (sister), Kathryn Calloway Skeen (sister), and Robert Maurice Calloway (brother) and Caroline Elizabeth O’Neal (granddaughter). He is survived by his wife of sixty- four years, June Hundley Calloway, daughter, Lynn Calloway O’Neal (Richard) son, Steven Danford Calloway (Josie), and four grandchildren; Katherine Elizabeth O’Neal, Michael Steven O’Neal, Madison Grace Calloway and Claire Bernice Calloway and a host of nieces and nephews.

Dan was a graduate of Ashford High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. Immediately after high school, he was recruited by a Cardinal’s Farm League Baseball, where he played several years as a pitcher. During this time, he met his future wife, June Hundley, at church. They married on October 21st, 1955 in Dothan, Alabama. They had the first wedding at Ridgecrest Baptist Church.

He later joined the Air Force, where he served during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas before being stationed in Largo, Florida. After his years in the Air Force, he and June made their home in their hometown of Dothan, Alabama. While in Dothan, they helped to plant Cloverdale Baptist Church, where they are charter members. He was very active in teaching Sunday School and singing in the church choir.

Dan was retired from Zayre Corporation. His job took him from Dothan, Alabama to Jacksonville, Florida, Clearwater, Florida, Montgomery, Alabama and to Birmingham, Alabama in 1973.

Dan coached baseball and football in Homewood for over twenty years. He and his longtime friend, Jimmy Neel, were instrumental in getting the fields built at West Homewood Park and for building one of the best sports programs in Birmingham. He brought in players from surrounding areas who would never have had the chance to play. Several of his players went on to play college ball and some are now coaching at the college level.

He loved his alumni, Ashford High School Ashford, Alabama and he worked tirelessly to raise money over the years for scholarships for deserving students.

Dan was a man of few words, but he loved to tell a good story. He loved to talk about his family, especially his grandchildren. He would talk about them to anyone who would listen. He loved The Lord. His faith saw him through life and, most of all, through his long illness.

His wife, June, was his primary care-giver throughout his long illness. She tirelessly and faithfully kept him at home to care for him during this time. She took faithfully vowed “in sickness and in health.” The family would like to thank the loving and compassionate Hospice nursing care that he received from Amedisys.

A private family service will be held at John’s - Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel Funeral Home on Thursday, April 16, 2020 with burial at The National Cemetery, Montevallo, Alabama. Due to the current health conditions, only immediate family are permitted to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you contribute to your favorite charity or church mission program.

John’s-Ridout’s Elmwood, Directing.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Calloway family.