Obituaries

Roberta Ruth Callum

COURTESY
CLAREMONT and UNITY — Roberta Ruth (Walker) Callum of Unity died March 29, 2019 at Valley Regional Hospital. She was born in Claremont on July 2, 1924, the daughter of Willard H. and Adelaide Coombs (Gay) Walker. She attended Unity schools and Farwell School in North Charlestown, Charlestown High, and Stevens High School. Roberta married John M. Callum on July 24, 1942 in Charlestown and they were married for 46 years until John’s death on March 24, 1988.

She worked at Tambrands, Inc. in Claremont for more than 25 years retiring in 1990. Roberta was a member of the Lempster, Methodist church. A charter member of Unity Historical Society serving as its first president, and later on as treasurer. She was local chairman of the five-year celebration of the country’s 200th anniversary. The historical society and other Unity residents made a float for the parade held in Concord on June 21. 1988. The Unity float won third place. Roberta was a big part of Unity’s own 200th celebration on Sept. 20, 1987. Roberta was one of many in the historical society who lobbied to have the Unity Town Hall refurbished, the Chase Tavern rebuilt and pushed to have a gazebo built on the town common. She served as the town’s historian and helped people all over the country with their genealogy research. Roberta loved to travel and after retiring; she was able to travel to Hawaii, Spain, Italy, and Mexico.

Roberta is survived by two sisters, Virginia Brisson and Shirley Dunn, both of Keene, and two sisters-in-law, Patricia Walker and Nancy Walker, both of Claremont; three sons: John (Linda) Callum of Unity, Jim (Linda) Callum of Sunapee, Terry E. (Nancyann) Callum of Unity, one daughter Claudia (George) Harrison of St. Croix; nine grandchildren: Rhonda, Heidi, Shelly, Terry, Kimberly, Eric, Todd, Nathan, and Julie; 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.

Roberta was preceded in death by her husband John M Callum Sr., two brothers: Theodore and Franklin Walker, two half-sisters: Lillian and Edith Hartwell, two brother-in-laws and their wives: Cecil and Geraldine Callum, Andrew and Lillian Callum, one sister-in-law: Marion (Callum) and John Fellows, and a great-grandson, Jonathan Troy Callum.

Roberta will be greatly missed by all! She was truly loved by her family and many, many friends! Friends and family may call at Roy’s Funeral Home in Claremont on April 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. with the funeral immediately following. After the funeral there will be a celebration of Roberta’s life at the Unity Town Hall in Unity. Burial will be at a later date at Hope Hill Cemetery, North Charlestown, at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Veterans Memorial c/o the Unity Historical Society, 13 Center Road, Unit 6, Unity, NH 03603.

The family of Roberta Callum would like to give our appreciation to the doctors and nurses at Valley Regional Hospital for the wonderful care they gave to Roberta and her family through the hours preceding Roberta’s passing. We would also like to thank Keady Family Practice, Dr. Keady, for the wonderful care she gave to our mother, Roberta. We also would like to thank: New London Hospital, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, the Unity Fast Squad, and Golden Cross. You are invited to share a memory of Roberta with the family or leave a message of condolence in the family guest book at www.royfuneralhome.com.

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