Ross Meara Callahan

Mr. Ross Meara Callahan passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025 in Noblesville, Indiana. Mr. Callahan had most recently been a volunteer Precinct Captain for elections in Hamilton County and enjoyed services provided by the Hamilton East Public Library.

Mr. Callahan was born in Noblesville, Indiana, on March 27, 1933. He was the only child of Major Clarence W. Callahan, U.S. Army, and Mrs. Mary B. (Meara) Callahan, both deceased.

Mr. Callahan graduated from Noblesville High School in the Class of 1951. Mr. Callahan was a Korean War-era veteran, enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1953. He rose in rank, serving as a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and training instructor on Project Nike at Ft. Bliss, Texas. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1955. Mr. Callahan was married in 1954 to the former Carolyn Southard, also of Noblesville. The Callahans were married for 22 years.

Mr. Callahan attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1951, prior to his military service. Following his military service, he enrolled at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Following graduation, Mr. Callahan moved his family to North Palm Beach, Florida, where he worked for the Pratt & Whitney Corporation. He was a research engineer on the formerly classified J-58 jet engine program for the U.S. Air Force's Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird aircraft.

In 1962, the Callahans moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where Mr. Callahan accepted a new position with Chrysler Aerospace supporting NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSC). In 1964, he joined the Boeing Company in Huntsville, and continued to work at Marshall. In 1971, Boeing transferred the Callahans to Clear Lake City in Houston, Texas, where Mr. Callahan worked as a Safety and Quality Assurance Engineer for Boeing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC).

During his aerospace career, Mr. Callahan helped provide engineering support solutions for NASA's Project Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle program, and the International Space Station (ISS).

Due to family circumstances, he moved back to Noblesville, Indiana, in 1978 and became the Chief of Safety and Quality Assurance at Stewart Warner's Southwind Division in Indianapolis.

Mr. Callahan was predeceased by his former wife, Carolyn (Southard) Callahan, Ph.D. He is survived by his four sons, Major Michael R. Callahan, USAF (Ret.) and his wife Paula, of Charlottesville, Virginia; Dr. Kerry B. Callahan, M.D. (Ret.) and his wife Maggie Conley, of Portland, Oregon; Sean P. Callahan and his wife Tracy of Seattle, Washington; and Brian C. Callahan, of Houston, Texas.

Mr. Callahan is also survived by his granddaughter, Ms. Catherine (Callahan) Cavignac and her husband Jeffery Cavignac, of Charlottesville, Virginia; three grandsons, Seth Callahan and Peter Callahan of Portland, Oregon, and Keenan Callahan of Seattle, Washington; and two great-grandsons, Masters Jacob and Lucas Cavignac.

Visitation will be from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, with funeral services at 11:00 am, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan Street, in Noblesville. Mr. Callahan will be interred with military honors at Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Callahan's family suggests donations may be made to the Hamilton East Public Library, 1 Library Plaza, Noblesville, IN 46060 (https://hamiltoneastpl.org); or Anchor of Hope Hospice, 973 Keystone Way N, Carmel, IN 46032 (https://www.anchorofhopehospice.com/indiana/hospice-care).

Condolences: www.randallroberts.com