James B "Jim" Callanan

James B. "Jim" Callanan, 91, of Tyler passed away July 29, 2013.
Jim was born July 9, 1922, in Somerville, Mass. He graduated from Acton High School in Massachusetts and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N.Y.
Jim served in the USN Submarine service during World War II on the USS Sailfish and the USS Batfish. While serving on the Batfish he received the Presidential Unit Citation for his participation of the sinking of three enemy submarines in three days.
Jim is survived by his son, Jim and wife Wanda Callanan, of Wake Forest, N.C. Also, survived by his daughter, Mary Callanan McCoy and husband R. Lynn McCoy, of Tomball; grandchildren, Meghan Mulky and husband Jesse, of Raleigh, N.C., Drew Callanan and wife Jill, of Raleigh, N.C., Mary Caitlin Floyd and husband Jared, of Augusta, Ga., Randy McCoy, of Austin, Molly McCoy, of Houston, and Sam McCoy, of Tomball; great-grandchildren, Emily Nugent, of Raleigh, N.C., and Caydence and Lorelei Floyd, of Augusta, Ga.
He was preceded in death by spouse, Anna Cecelia Callanan; son, John Francis Callanan; parents, Thomas James Callanan and Mary Flanagan; and grandson, Thomas James Callanan.
He was a loving father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather and loyal friend to many. Jim retired after 42 years of service at General Electric having worked in multiple locations, including Istanbul, Turkey. He enjoyed recognition, including the cover of Engineering Today for his accomplishments with the initial stacker crane development. He was a past commander of the World War II Submarine Veterans Organization, enjoyed theater, family and friends. Jim was a lifetime supporter of education. He particularly enjoyed travels throughout the United States and Canada with his dear friend and companion, Barbara Froeschl. He recently participated in the Brookshire Heroes Flight for WWII Heroes.
As a goal oriented individual, Jim accomplished most of the dreams on his "bucket list."
We are certain that he achieved the final item of entering the gates of heaven.
The Reading of the Rosary will be Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 5 p.m. with visitation following at Lloyd James Funeral Home until 7 p.m.
Funeral Mass will be Thursday Aug. 1, 2013, at 10 a.m. at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tyler Catholic School Foundation, P.O. Box 131175, Tyler, 75713; or The Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701.