Official Obituary of
Jimmy Dale Callaway
January 24, 1937 ~ January 19, 2021 (age 83) 83 Years Old
Jimmy Callaway Obituary
Jimmy Dale Callaway, Sr. was born January 24, 1937 in Duncan, Oklahoma to Jesse Clarence “JC” and Ruth M. (Parker) Callaway. He passed away on January19, 2021at the age of 83.
A graveside service is scheduled for Tuesday, January 26, at 2:00 P.M. in the Duncan Cemetery under the direction of Whitt Funeral Home. Randy Southerland will conduct the service.
Dale attended school at Empire, played basketball and football and graduated from Empire High School in 1955. On June 10th he married the love of his life, Jane K. Benson, in a double wedding ceremony with his best friend Allen Byrom and Jane’s identical twin sister June Benson.
Dale and Jane soon moved to Norman where Dale enrolled in the University of Oklahoma, but after a year Dale was missing painting with his father and Jane wanted to be closer to her twin sister. Upon returning to Duncan, Dale joined his father’s paint contracting business. He continued to paint, hang wallpaper and stain and finish woodwork until he could no longer do the work. He was an artist and craftsman at heart, more concerned with the satisfaction of his customers and the quality of the work itself than any monetary reward.
Dale never met a stranger although once he met someone they were never able to get a word in edgewise. He enjoyed playing golf and was a very good golfer (although not quite as good in reality as in the stories he would tell of his on course exploits). He also enjoyed fishing and reading and was an avid OU football fan.
After Dale could no longer work he had to find something to do to satisfy his love of interacting with people. Soon, he was known locally as the “Candy Man”. He bought red strawberry candy by the case and would walk up and down Main Street, or anywhere there were people and handed out his candy. He especially loved giving the candy to children. Dale continued his candy charity even after moving into Meridian Nursing Home. He was excited in December 2019 when he and Jane were Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus at the Meridian Nursing Home Christmas Party, giving out the donated presents and as always his trademark strawberry candy.
Dale is survived by his wife, Jane Benson Callaway of Meridian Nursing Home; daughter, Cindy and husband Todd Sanner; sister, LaWanda J. Kester; brothers-in-law, Rufus Benson; niece, Sandra and husband Darryl Heintzelman; nephew, Dwayne Byrom and wife Jane; and great nieces and nephews.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jimmy Dale Callaway, Jr.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Allen and June Byrom; brothers-in-law, Larry Skinner and Jack Kester; sister-in-law, Paula Benson; and nephew, Larry Lee Skinner.
The family would like to thank the staff at Meridian Nursing Home for their loving care and to thank Angela and Holly at DRH for staying with Dale and holding his hands at the end.
Memorial contributions can be made in Dale’s memory to Stephens County Humane Society, PO Box 669, Duncan, OK 73534.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.whittfh.com.
A graveside service is scheduled for Tuesday, January 26, at 2:00 P.M. in the Duncan Cemetery under the direction of Whitt Funeral Home. Randy Southerland will conduct the service.
Dale attended school at Empire, played basketball and football and graduated from Empire High School in 1955. On June 10th he married the love of his life, Jane K. Benson, in a double wedding ceremony with his best friend Allen Byrom and Jane’s identical twin sister June Benson.
Dale and Jane soon moved to Norman where Dale enrolled in the University of Oklahoma, but after a year Dale was missing painting with his father and Jane wanted to be closer to her twin sister. Upon returning to Duncan, Dale joined his father’s paint contracting business. He continued to paint, hang wallpaper and stain and finish woodwork until he could no longer do the work. He was an artist and craftsman at heart, more concerned with the satisfaction of his customers and the quality of the work itself than any monetary reward.
Dale never met a stranger although once he met someone they were never able to get a word in edgewise. He enjoyed playing golf and was a very good golfer (although not quite as good in reality as in the stories he would tell of his on course exploits). He also enjoyed fishing and reading and was an avid OU football fan.
After Dale could no longer work he had to find something to do to satisfy his love of interacting with people. Soon, he was known locally as the “Candy Man”. He bought red strawberry candy by the case and would walk up and down Main Street, or anywhere there were people and handed out his candy. He especially loved giving the candy to children. Dale continued his candy charity even after moving into Meridian Nursing Home. He was excited in December 2019 when he and Jane were Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus at the Meridian Nursing Home Christmas Party, giving out the donated presents and as always his trademark strawberry candy.
Dale is survived by his wife, Jane Benson Callaway of Meridian Nursing Home; daughter, Cindy and husband Todd Sanner; sister, LaWanda J. Kester; brothers-in-law, Rufus Benson; niece, Sandra and husband Darryl Heintzelman; nephew, Dwayne Byrom and wife Jane; and great nieces and nephews.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jimmy Dale Callaway, Jr.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Allen and June Byrom; brothers-in-law, Larry Skinner and Jack Kester; sister-in-law, Paula Benson; and nephew, Larry Lee Skinner.
The family would like to thank the staff at Meridian Nursing Home for their loving care and to thank Angela and Holly at DRH for staying with Dale and holding his hands at the end.
Memorial contributions can be made in Dale’s memory to Stephens County Humane Society, PO Box 669, Duncan, OK 73534.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.whittfh.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jimmy Dale Callaway, please visit our floral store.
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