Lasting Memories

William Callery
1919-Dec. 27, 2008
Palo Alto, California

William (Bill) Callery Jr., a former Portola Valley resident, died peacefully from heart failure in Palo Alto on Dec. 27. Mr. Callery, who lived at the Hyatt Classic Residence in Palo Alto for the past two years, was 89.

Mr. Callery was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Princeton University in 1942 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He served with the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant in the South Pacific during World War II.

Before retiring as corporate personnel manager with Varian Associates of Palo Alto in 1981, he worked in sales with Gar Wood Industries in Detroit, and as assistant chief engineer and commercial sales manager with Hiller Helicopters in Palo Alto.

Mr. Callery married Lanie Wright of Detroit in 1947. Together, they raised their three children in Portola Valley. In 1980, they moved to The Villages in San Jose, where they enjoyed an active life and the hobby of building and flying remote controlled model airplanes. Lanie died in 1993. In 1995 Mr. Callery married Arvella "Sis" Schaffer, who died in 2004.

He will be remembered as a man of great integrity, loyalty, faith, generosity and humor, say family members. He was an avid golfer and skier. His family recalls his favorite saying after a day on the ski slopes, "Tired but happy, the boys all voted the best day ever."

Surviving Mr. Callery are his children, Tripp Callery of Springfield, Oregon, Tina Pidwell of Saratoga, and Terry Miller of Emerald Hills; brother Charles Callery of Houston, Texas; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.