Charles H. McCallum

Funeral services for Mr. Charles H. “Charlie Mc” McCallum, 85, of Swartz, LA, will be held Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at 12:00 noon, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA. Officiating will be Rev. Ricky Baker and Rev. Aaron Dickinson. Special music provided by Alan McVay, son-in-law, and Rev. Ricky Baker. Interment will follow in Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe, LA.
Charles was born on August 23, 1932, in Monroe, LA, and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, Saturday, December 9, 2017, at Avalon Place, after a lengthy illness.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a friend to all. He was a graduate of Ouachita Parish High School and Northeast LA. State College, Monroe, LA, with a B.S. in Agriculture. While in college, he worked part-time as a “school boy” for Columbian Chemical Co. and drove a Ouachita Parish High School bus. Charles was a friendly person with a good personality and made many friends, who he cherished and kept in touch with, many of them until his illness. He loved to reminisce about living in south Monroe on South Grand Street with his family and about the many friends he made and about what the teachers at Barkdull Faulk Elementary School meant to him. Charles moved to the country (Swartz) when he was a teenager and lived with relatives where he learned to work in all aspects of farming, which later in life led him to acquire his own property, raising cows, horses, hay, vegetables, etc.
After college, Charles went to work for Columbian Chemical Co. for 25 years as an Assistant Engineer assisting in the development of new carbon black in plants in the United States, Germany and England. After retirement, he went to work at ULM as an Operation Engineer in the Physical Plant working on cooling towers at the university for 20 years. He was a hard worker, giving 100 percent plus to his jobs. He also served as Justice of the Peace for many years in Ouachita Parish, along with serving with the co-op for the local water company.
Charles was a member of Swartz First Baptist Church and a member of Louis Auttonberry Sunday School Class. He was a charter member of Swartz Lions Club, where he served as secretary for many years.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, George Grady McCallum, Sr. and Vivian Edelen McCallum; his brother, George Grady McCallum, Jr.; and his sister, Norma Sumrall.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 ½ years, Elaine Reneau McCallum, who has been by his side almost every day. She was his high school sweetheart and they loved each other dearly. He will be missed.
Other survivors are two sons, Keith McCallum (Lori), St. Francisville, LA, and Mark McCallum, Swartz, LA; daughter, Candice McVay (Alan), Swartz, LA; five granddaughters, Brandy Skipper (Mark), Monroe, LA, Brooke Wood (Charlie), Baton Rouge, LA, Mindy Brooks, Baton Rouge, LA, Kaitlin LaCas, Swartz, LA, Mary Grace McVay, Swartz, LA; two step-granddaughters, Meagan Hatten (Jessie), Eros, LA and Lauren Rinehart (Cody), West Monroe, LA; six great-grandchildren, Gracie Skipper, Henry Skipper, Ellis Wood, Hill Wood, Claire Jenkins, Olivia Jenkins; six step-great grandchildren, Briggs Wood, Bowen Wood, Wyatt Hatten, Hank Hatten, Nathan Rinehart, Tucker Rinehart; two sisters, Peggy Stout, Zwolle, LA, and Aline James (Wayne), Swartz, LA; four brothers, Kenneth (Carolyn) McCallum, West Monroe, LA, Alan McCallum, Swartz, LA, Richard Hill (Dianne), Swartz, LA, Phil Hill (Pat), Swartz, LA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to give special thanks to Avalon Place for their love and care for the last four years, and, also, to Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care for their excellent care, with a special thanks to an amazing nurse, Natalie Ward, for her expertise, support, love, and care, staying with us right to the end. Also, to Chaplain Ricky Baker for the very special times he spent with “Mr. Charles” and the family. Special thanks to our friend, David Ray Speir, deacon at Swartz First Baptist Church, for his uplifting visits and special prayers.
Serving as pallbearers are: Charles Allen Reneau, Neil Sidders, Charlie Wood, Steve McCallum, Mark Skipper, David Ray Speir, Johnny Ray Capps, and Wayne James.
Memorial may be made to the Local Alzheimer’s Association or Swartz First Baptist Church.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 13, 2017, from 10:00 AM until time of service at 12:00 noon.

Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA