Obituary

US Navy World War II Veteran Korean War Veteran

EDWARD H. McCALL, DDS - in Woburn, July 9th. Beloved husband of Marie T. (Sirwatka) McCall. Devoted father of Catherine J. Hockenberry and her husband Bill of VA, Judith McCall Cutts and her husband Dick of Woburn, Dr. Edward H. McCall, Jr., of Carlisle, Dr. Patricia McCall of Plymouth, NH, Maureen T. Austin and her husband Albert of Ramona, CA, and Dr. Daniel L. McCall, and his wife Tracy of Woburn. Dear brother of Eleanor Zachary of N. Conway, NH and Frank McCall and his wife Claire of Woburn. Also survived by 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Tuesday, July 13th, at 9:15 a.m. Funeral mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn, at 10. Calling hours Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Donations may be made in Dr. McCall's memory to the Mass. Lions Eye Research Fund, PO Box 6050, New Bedford, MA 01742, or to VNA Hospice Care, Suite G-500, Woburn, MA 01801.

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OBITUARY:

Dr. Edward H. McCall, 87, a well-known Woburn dentist and highly respected businessman, passed away peacefully at his home early Friday, July 9th, surrounded by his family, following a long battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Marie T. (Sirwatka) McCall for over sixty-four years.

Dr. McCall, affectionately known as "Doc," was born and raised in Woburn, son of the late Hugh and Katherine (Walsh) McCall. He attended Woburn schools and graduated from Woburn High School with the Class of 1940. A member of the track team which went undefeated in 1940, he also was one of the founding members of the Innitou Ski Club. He went on to graduate from Boston College with the Class of 1944, and proudly served in the US Army during World War II. He earned his D.D.S. degree from Georgetown University in 1947 and came home to Woburn, along with his new bride Marie, to establish his dental practice on Winn Street. Called to service once again during the Korean Conflict, he served with the US Navy Dental Corps.

He continued his involvement in the practice, which has continued in the family, for six decades, checking in daily at the office until just a few months ago. If one visited McCall's Dental Office, you could not help but slip into Doc's hideaway in the back room, where he would preside over a discussion on any topic you could imagine, with a huge focus on Boston College, the Stock Market, and his thoughts on any and all occupants of the White House to the State House. Part of the great "McCall family of Woburn," Doc loved to listen to your stories and hear about your children. He had a quick wit and a great memory, with a profound knowledge of the history of Woburn and especially his favorite Lions Club.

A longtime member of the Lions Club, he was involved in every Lions Parade, and served as Honorary Marshal for the 44th Annual Halloween Parade in 1998. He helped to collect donations in every parade and assisted in placing the Lions church on the Common every Christmas. He loved his Lions friends like brothers and delighted in welcoming his son into the Club. Along with the Lions, where he was the recipient of the Humanitarian Award: Melvin Jones Fellow, he held membership in the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society, the Middlesex Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry, as well as the dental fraternities Psi Omega and Dean Coogan.

He was a member of the George Campbell Post 101 American Legion and was on the Board of the Woburn High School Scholarship Fund, where he served as President from 1962-64 and 1970-71. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Woburn Public Library for ten years. An Incorporator and Director of the Woburn Bank and Trust, which later became Northern Bank and Trust, he served as Vice President for twenty-five years and was Acting President in 1977 and 1978 at the Annual Meeting.

A gentleman of many and diverse interests, Dr. McCall was active in cattle production for many years. He developed breed stock for Angus beef production, and was one of the first to produce hormone- and antibiotic-free Angus beef. In earlier years he went on the show circuit, often bringing his family along, to county fairs and cattle shows. He was strongly involved in real estate development and faithfully followed the stock market.

His family was his most important legacy, and he will long be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother. He was truly "a man of substance."

Surviving, along with his beloved wife Marie, are six children: Catherine J. Hockenberry and her husband Bill of Virginia, Judith McCall Cutts and her husband Dick of Woburn, Edward H. McCall, Jr., DDS, of Carlisle, Patricia McCall, DDS, of Plymouth, NH, Maureen T. Austin and her husband Albert of Ramona, CA, and Dr. Daniel L. McCall, DMD, and his wife Tracy of Woburn. He was the dear brother of Eleanor Zachary of North Conway, New Hampshire and Frank McCall and his wife Claire of Woburn. He also leaves eleven cherished grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Tuesday, July 13th, at 9:15 a.m., followed by a funeral mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn, at 10. Interment will follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Donations may be made in Dr. McCall's memory to the Mass. Lions Eye Research Fund, PO Box 6050, New Bedford, MA 01742, or to VNA Hospice Care, Suite G-500, Woburn, MA 01801.