Obituary of James McCallum

James Melvin McCallum, 78, of , Aylmer, died on Saturday, March 12 at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital. He was a retired farmer and farm equipment mechanic, and was born in South Dorchester on April 17, 1932, the son of the late James & Ida May (Hosner) McCallum. He was married on October 23, 1954 to Margaret Leona Simpson of Copenhagen, and following their marriage they farmed on her parents' farm on the Jamestown Road. In addition to operating the family farm, he drove a milk truck route for a number of years, did custom farm harvesting and was employed as a mechanic at Routly & Phillips in Aylmer. In 1970 they sold the farm at Copenhagen and moved to a dairy farm at Monkton, Ontario which they operated for four years before he purchased a Massey-Ferguson dealership in Monkton. After the farm was sold, he and Margaret built a new home in Monkton. After owning "J & G Equipment Ltd." for a number of years, he went to work for area Massey-Ferguson dealerships as a salesman and mechanic, retiring in 1994. In his younger years, he enjoyed deer hunting in the Commanda and Sprucedale areas north of Huntsville, as well as snowmobiling. In 2004 he and his wife sold their Monkton home and moved to an apartment in Aylmer. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2004. Surviving besides his wife are a daughter Kathyrn and her husband Mark Rock of Atwood, Ontario, and a son Jim of London; four granddaughters, Michelle and her husband Marcel VanLochem of Cambridge, Amanda, of Cambridge, Naomi and April Rock of Atwood; three great grandchildren, Eliana, Tobias and Myla VanLochem. Also surviving are a sister, Delia Young of St. Thomas and a brother Norbert and his wife Norma of Aylmer. He was predeceased by his father and mother-in-law, Leon & Thelma (Whitcroft) Simpson, brothers Delbert (Hi), Alvin (Tom), sisters Marjorie Blakley and Celia McCallum; and his cousin and "best man" Jack McCallum. Friends may call at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home, 119 Talbot Street E., Aylmer, on Monday, March 14 from 2-4 and 7-9. The funeral will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 15 at 1 p.m, with Rev. Janet Anstead officiating. Interment in Aylmer Cemetery. Donations to the Malahide United Church, Mapleton Church of Christ Disciples, or First Baptist Church, Listowel would be appreciated. Condolences at kebbelfuneralhome.com