Richard E. ‘Yakey’ McCallum – Belle Vernon

Richard E. ‘Yakey’ McCallum, 90, of Belle Vernon went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Monongahela Valley Hospital. A son of the late Albert and Dorothy Savage McCallum, he was born in Coal Center on Dec. 21, 1928. Also known as “Dick,” he was a member of First United Methodist Church of Belle Vernon, where he was very active in church activities and played for the church’s dartball team. He was a member of Charleroi American Legion Post 22 and had been a member, post commander and chaplain of the former John F. Kennedy Post 377, California American Legion and was active in the Riverside Senior Citizens of Charleroi. In the late 1940s, he was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates farm club. He retired in 1990 after 37 years from California University of Pennsylvania’s HVAC maintenance department. He was also an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Earlier this year, he won two gold medals in the Senior Olympics in cornhole and horseshoes. He was a Korean wartime veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force. Survivors include his loving wife of 34 years, Diana Luko McCallum; five daughters and two sons-in-law, Suzanne and Joe Powers of Carmichaels, Cheryl and Ron Pitzer of Washington, Pa., Donna Corcoran of Waynesburg, and Lynn Stark and Patti Dziak, both of Charleroi; one son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Meina Stark of Texas, 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and his beloved dog, Molly. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter in infancy. Friends will be received from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 700 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, 724-929-5300, www.FergusonFuneralHomeandCrematory.com. A memorial service will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in the funeral home with Rev. Sandy Fitzgibbons officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Humane Society.