William W. Callen

William “Cal” W. Callen, 96, of Cuba, NY, formerly of Salamanca, NY and the Little Valley Rod and Gun Club, died Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Buffalo General Hospital following a short illness.

Born April 18, 1927 in Salamanca, NY he was the son of the late Chester and Edna Weaver Callen. He was married on October 13, 1950 to the former Kathryn Nelson, who predeceased him on February 3, 2002.

He was a graduate of Salamanca High School, Class of 1945.

He served in the United States Navy from 1944 – 1946 as a Seaman First Class.

William had been employed as a mechanical equipment operator with National Fuel, Salamanca, NY for over 58 years, retiring in 1981. He had previously worked several years as a lift operator at Holiday Valley, Ellicottville, NY. He also worked at Onoville Marina where he will be remembered for saving many boats from being destroyed in a dock fire.

He had been the past president of the Salamanca Lions Club and was a member of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, raising 22 dogs throughout the years and traveled to Yorktown Heights, NY to watch the Guide Dogs be placed with their Blind Person. William had also been a member of the Cattaraugus Living Arts Association, and after the flooding had helped with cleaning out and building a new theatre, building sets for plays, and conducting grand opening celebrations.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, the outdoors, adventures in wood cutting, raising cows and pigs, was an avid football and NASCAR fan. He will be remembered for family vacations such as EXPO 67, across the top of the United States to Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, Washington State, down the coast to the Redwood Forrest, to Phoenix, Vail CO, as well as several spots on the way home. He also enjoyed vacationing in Daytona Beach, FL as well as living in Casa Grande, Arizona, during the winters with his late wife and in New York and Pennsylvania in the summer.

Surviving are: two daughters, Elizabeth “Buffy” (Jeff) Callen-Pratt, Cuba, NY, Rev. Ann (Scott) Dixon, Falls Creek, PA; a son, John (Kathie) Callen, FL; a granddaughter, Andrea (Chris) Ripley, FL; three great-granddaughters, Chloe Moore, FL, Angelina Moore, FL, Scarlett Gray, VA; several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by three sisters, Fannie Barnes, Mary Ann Mosher, Nancy Bach, and four brothers, George Ferris, Chester Callen, Charles Callen, Raymond Callen.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY on Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 11am – 1pm at which time funeral services will be held with Rev. Ann Dixon, daughter of the deceased officiating.

Full military honors will be conducted by members of the American Legion Hughes-Skiba Post 535 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars John F. Ahrens Post 5296.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be sent to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.

E-condolences can be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.