William F. Callahan (WITH PHOTO AND FLAG)

CUMBERLAND ~ William F. Callahan, 78, passed away peacefully, Monday, August 10, 2009, surrounded by his loving family at Roger Williams Medical Center. He was the beloved husband of Dorothy M. (McGeehan) Callahan for 53 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late William F. and M. Ethel (Hayden) Callahan, he resided in Pawtucket before moving to Cumberland in 1970. Bill was a Korean War U.S. Army veteran. He was employed by the New England Telephone Co., Providence, for 38 years before retiring in 1992 as a Line Assigner Supervisor. Bill was a graduate of LaSalle Academy. He was a life member of the Telephone Pioneers and was active in the Cumberland Little League; Babe Ruth League and Youth Hockey. He was the founder of the Instructional Baseball League; member of the Ireland 32 Society; avid Red Sox and Patriots fan, and he enjoyed playing cards on Thursday and Friday afternoons at the Lincoln Senior Center. Besides his wife he leaves four children, Donna Jenness and her husband Ray of Smithfield, Bill Callahan and his wife JoAnn of Norwell, MA, Joe Callahan and his wife Gail of Mansfield, MA and Kevin Callahan and his wife Chris of Attleboro; eight grandchildren, A.J., Keith, Lauren, Ryan, Matthew, Timmy, Jocelyn and Jenna; a sister, Jean Smith of Greenville; a sister-in-law, Esther Callahan of Greenville and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Jack Callahan. His funeral with Military Honors will be held Friday at 10 a.m. from WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. John Vianney Church, 3609 Diamond Hill Rd., Cumberland. Interment will follow at Mt. St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. VISITATION will be Thursday 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the RI Lung Assoc., 260 West Exchange St., Suite 102B, Providence, RI 02903 or the National Pancreas Foundation, 364 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116 will be appreciated. For online condolences visit: www.TrippFuneralHome.com