(December 17, 1932 – March 20, 2016)
Bill was born a sharecroppers’ son to Mark Callingham from London, England and his wife Muriel (nee Cole) of Newquay, UK in Kent County, Ontario. Bill joins his parents and brothers Donald, John and Pete in the afterlife as well as his wife of forty-two years Anne Marie Kirkwood Callingham. He leaves behind his brother Bob, sister-in-laws Peggy, Marilyn, Gloria and Nora, niece Laura Callingham, numerous other nieces and nephews, the Kirkwood clan of Robert and Maisy, longtime friend Bud Garrod, many, many wonderful people who were close to his heart in Sudbury and Blenheim. Also left to mourn are his children Mark, Jason (partner Christine Emmerson), Craig (partner Rose Rene), Tara (partner Susan Kober), his grandson Nigel C. Roy and granddaughters Taylor, Aryanna and Mia Emmerson. Bill’s first job was being the runner on a milkman’s horse-drawn carriage. He worked with pride and professionalism at Muirheads, Eatons and Costco. Bill also had a go as a small business man here in town and graced the stages of Sudbury Little Theatre Guild, Thornloe Players and Theatre Cambrian. He and some good friends sailed the Caribbean in the seventies and he drove his wife and their four squabbling kids to Florida and back in a Ford Pinto. Bill and Anne Marie’s children sincerely thank the Brady Clinic team, the Caregivers at Health Sciences North as well as the Costco family for everything they did during Bill’s final days. Bill left this world as all his children were together by his side sharing stories and laughing. A gathering for Bill Callingham will be held at SRO Lounge, 93 Durham Street on Sunday, April 3rd from 1-4 p.m. Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.
We are so sorry to hear the sad news of Bill’s death. He was always family to us, because Jim and Anne Marie were second cousins. (And I grew up in Southwestern Ontario, just a stone’s throw from Blenheim). And we all knew each other for such a long, long time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
March 24, 2016
Mark, Jason, Tara and Craig please accept my deepest sympathy in the loss of your Dad. I had the pleasure of knowing your Dad for many years and he always had such a lovely smile and kind, gentle manner. It is never easy to loose a parent, but I hope the wonderful memories you have of him will help you through this difficult time.
March 23, 2016
A life well lived. I first met Bill on a Thorneloe Players show. He played the mysterious old man and I loved every minute of it. The bonus was the fact that I also acted alongside his son Mark as well. He was always a joy to be around and we acted in more than a few projects as the years passed. He loved to act and it show. Always left his life at the door and dived in to the character and gave 100 percent to the show. It was always a renewed joy to see his smiling face at Costco and we would take a minute to walk down memory lane. You will be missed Bill. My thoughts go out to his family. The boys I know carry his reflection. You are truly blessed.
March 22, 2016