Joseph Chester Calloway

Joseph Chester Calloway was born May 17, 1923 in Cullman County, Alabama to Robert C. Calloway and Eva M. Calloway. He was one of fifteen children born to this union.

He was drafted into the army, and while working at the Ft. McCellan ordinance depot in Anniston Alabama, he met Mary Jewell Ford. She was the one great love of his life and they married on June 20, 1942. Chester and Mary Jewell had five children, three boys and two girls, one of the boys died at birth. His wife preceded him in death in 2003.

After farming in Alabama for a few years following the war, Chester and his family moved to eastern New Mexico and ended up in Odessa, Texas. Chester worked in the oilfields of West Texas and New Mexico for Cactus Drilling and Delta Drilling, mainly in the Odessa area. Health reasons ended his oilfield career in 1966.

Chester loved his God first, Wife, Family and Country in that order. Chester was a D-Day survivor landing at Omaha Beach with the 29th Infantry Division, 821st tank destroyers. Serving under General George S. Patton he received five battle stars during his service in Europe.

He is survived by his sons, Charles Calloway and wife Judy of Odessa, Texas, Terry Calloway and wife Laurie of San Antonio, Texas, daughters Becky Smith and husband Bobby, and Brenda Machen and husband Don all of Odessa, Texas. Chester is also survived by two brothers, his twin brother Lester Calloway of Plaktha, Florida and Elwin Calloway of Wetumpka, Alabama, sisters, Elizabeth Denson of Cullman, Alabama and Bobbie Shultz of Fairview, Alabama. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by residents and staff of Sherwood Place, extended family members and extended church members of 1st Church of God and Sherwood Baptist churches.

Visitation is Wednesday, December 04, 2013 from 6-8 pm at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Home, 4635 Oakwood Drive, Odessa. Texas. Funeral services are Thursday, December 05, 2013 at 10:00 am at Sherwood Baptist Church with Rev. Wally Schiwart and Rev. Ivy Shelton officiating. Interment will be at Ector County Cemetery.

Services are entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.