Wallace "Wally" Jackson Callahan

Wally was born April 14,1925 in Deep Water, Missouri. He was the third oldest child who lived with a wonderful Christian mother and a hard working father. At age 13 his family moved to Kansas where he was raised on a farm with his four brothers and five sisters.

Wally worked two jobs when he was in High School and still managed to graduate in his class with honors. Before school he worked as an agent at a train station. This is where he learned radio, Morse Code, selling tickets, checking baggage and loading items on to the trains. At night he worked at a gas station.

Wally joined the U.S. Marines in 1943 at 18 years old and was trained at Camp Pendleton before he was sent to the Pacific to the fight the Japanese during World War II.

Wally was a Jungle radio operator in the Philippines who helped direct the fire of 155mm guns, used to Japanese targets. He was in this area for 56 days. Later he was sent to Guam for training to go to Japan, but after Harry Truman dropped the atom bomb the war with Japan ended. He received 3 battle stars for his service to his country while he was in Eniwetok, Guam, and the Philippines.

Wally had a ticket home receiving an honorable discharge for military service.

After the war Wally went to work at the Kansas City Power Line earning $1.10 an hour. Later he enrolled in Air Line School but the pilots went on strike, so he became an Iron Worker for many years. In 1953 he worked in real estate, selling and building homes and insurance, writing policies for 21 companies.

Wally retired and moved to Arizona in 1995 taking care of his first wife, Doris, for six years before she passed away in 2007. He was left with one son, Ken Callahan, and a step-son, Charles Hulse. Both are now deceased. Ken passed away in 2010 and Charles passed away in 2018.

Wally met Ester in 2009 at Heart Rehab. Both of their hearts were healed by Jesus, so they got married.

Wally now has two sisters, Ola May Earnest of Pleasanton, KS and Mary Lou Cox or Independence MO; eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and one on the way. He has two step-sons, Rawlin and Monty Sniff. Grandchildren are Aaron and Marisa Sniff, Lowen and Megan Sniff, Mahina and Doug DePaula, Nate and Kathlyn Howles. Great grandchildren are Cole, Melody, Dean, and Tommy.

Wally was the most kind, gentle, loving, and generous person this family has ever known. He always said, "He always wanted to be more than fair," and he was, "and that Jesus gave him more than he deserved."

Wally recited poems and songs. Worked in his garden and loved his family so much. He cooked and made fudge for whomever wanted some.

We as a family want to thank all of you for being friends with this special man and thank you for the time you shared with us and the food, prayers, and Jesus.