Alvin Callis

Alvin J. Callis PORTSMOUTH - Alvin Joseph Callis, 82, passed away Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, after a long illness. He was born in Harrellsville, N.C., Sept. 24, 1926, to the late Cora Meadows and Samuel Alexander Callis. He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Willoughby Bazemore; a brother, Maynard Callis; and three sisters, Lorraine Hayes, Frances Eure and Alice Orland Clark. Mr. Callis was born in Person County, North Carolina. He was a former member of Harrellsville Baptist Church in North Carolina and Alexander Baptist Church in Portsmouth. Mr. Callis graduated from Harrellsville High School in Hertford County, North Carolina, in 1944. He farmed for a year before serving in the United States Army during World War II. He was inducted at Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 29, 1944, and received basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. He passed through Fort Meade, Md., and Camp Stoneman, Calif., in June 1945. Mr. Callis was sergeant first class in the ground forces. Overseas duty was in the Philippine Islands from June 30, 1945 to Oct. 8, 1946, and Mr. Callis served on the islands of Leyte, Mindanao and Luzon. He was discharged Dec. 7, 1946. Mr. Callis' second tour of duty was in the Korean War from Nov. 3, 1950, to Oct. 10, 1951. Mr. Callis graduated from Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprentice School Oct. 14, 1953, and worked as an insulator. He retired as a general foreman after 37 years. Mr. Callis was a member of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local Number 9. He was on the executive committee of the 5th Naval District Metal Trades Council. He retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1984. Mr. Callis was an avid lover of the outdoors and hunting. He was an outstanding angler and won numerous trophies and awards as a member of the Norfolk County Anglers Club, which he was a member until the club retired in July 1992. He was an excellent golfer and made two holes-in-one during his golfing years. He also enjoyed gardening. Mr. Callis became a member of the American Legion, Post 310, in 1954 and was a lifelong member. He was sergeant at arms in 1955, and first vice commander in 1956. Mr. Callis leaves to mourn his daughters, Margaret Anne Laskin-Born and husband Edward of Colerain, N.C., and Jo Lynn Brown and husband Nick of Chesapeake; three grandsons, Nick Brown of Chesapeake, Randy Brown and wife Christy of Portsmouth, and Justin Laskin of London, England; three great-grandchildren, Rachael, Joey and Aiden Brown; and three brothers, Samuel, Elton and Cecil Callis. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel. Burial will follow in the Bazemore family cemetery in Cofield, N.C., at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to The American Legion, Post 310, 3107 American Legion Road, Chesapeake, VA 23321. The family wishes to express their thanks to April Neal, a kind and patient caregiver, to the Palliative Care Nurses of Bon Secours Maryview Hospital, and the hospice nurses and staff of the Bon Secours Nursing Care Center for their compassion and care of Mr. Callis during his stay there. www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com.