Herbert McCallum was many things to many people, but to Rod Melzer he was always a loyal friend and even a mentor when it came to being an outdoorsman.
‘He was a wonderful guy,? said Melzer, of Oxford. ‘I’m lost for words.?
Sadly, McCallum, known to many as simply ‘Herbie,? passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. He was 79.
A lifelong Oxford resident, Herbie grew up in Oakwood (an unincorporated area of the township) on Baldwin Road.
Although he was born a deaf mute, Herbie didn’t let his disability prevent him from being one of the most sociable and active guys around town. It’s amazing how many lives he touched without saying a word.
‘He just loved people in general,? said Melzer, noting he particularly enjoyed hanging out at American Legion Post 108, of which he was a member, and Collier Lanes.
‘Herbie was the kind of guy everybody liked,? said Fire Chief Jack LeRoy. ‘And he never let his handicap hold him back.?
‘He had so many things going against him, but he did an excellent job of overcoming them,? said resident Shirley Acheson, who met Herbie in the first grade. ‘He had a lot more going for him than a lot of people than can hear and speak.?
Everyday Herbie made it a point to visit various local merchants and friends? homes. He always came bearing a smile and friendly demeanor.
‘He was a good natured man,? said Herbie’s brother, Melvin. ‘He was always cheerful.?
‘He just knew everybody and everybody knew Herbie,? said resident Chris Acheson. ‘He made himself a life that was envious to most. I don’t know of anybody that didn’t like him unless they didn’t understand him.?
For a guy who couldn’t hear or talk, Herbie was one of the most well-informed people when it came to local scuttlebutt.
‘He knew what everybody was talking about and he knew everything that was going on in Oxford,? Melzer said. ‘If you wanted to know something about Oxford, he knew it.?
Herbie communicated with people through a combination of signing and the pen and paper he always carried with him. ‘He knew how to get his point across,? LeRoy said.
Understanding others wasn’t a problem for Herbie.
‘If you were halfway across the room, he could probably read your lips and know exactly what you’re saying,? Melzer said.
A hard-working, physically strong man, Herbie retired from General Motors (Fisher Body in Pontiac), but kept busy helping out at the old Bellairs Service Station and working at Hunters Ridge Hunt Club, where he helped care for the dogs, clean game birds and did other odd jobs from the early 1990s until 2004.
‘He was always wanting to do something, so he was always offering his hands out,? Melzer said.
When he wasn’t busy working or socializing, Herbie was an avid sportsman who loved all types of fishing and enjoyed hunting be it with a bow or gun.
‘Deer hunting was his favorite,? said Melzer, who hunted and fished with Herbie from the late 1970s through 1980s. ‘He was a mentor to me. He was a teacher to everyone he met when it came to the outdoors.?
‘You could talk to Herbie all day long about hunting and fishing, and he’d tell you all about it,? LeRoy said.
‘He was just a joy to be around,? said fishing buddy Dave Fischer, owner of Hunters Ridge. ‘He loved the outdoors. He lived for it. That was his passion.?
You wouldn’t expect a blue collar guy who so thoroughly enjoyed the wilderness to be light on his feet, but Herbie had quite the reputation as a dancer.
‘He was probably one of the best dancers you ever want to see,? Melzer said. ‘Lot of women liked to dance with him.?
Herbie also loved a good game of euchre and enjoyed playing pool.
‘He was one of the best pool shooters you ever want to meet,? Melzer said. ‘Very, very good ? there wasn’t anybody that could touch him if he was on.?
Perhaps the most fitting tribute to Herbie is the fact that Melzer knew him for about 30 years and he can honestly say ‘not one time was a bad time.? ‘He was one of my best friends,? Melzer said.
Herbie is survived by his brother Melvin, his grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1 at Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors Bossardet Chapel in Oxford. Pastor Bob Service will officiate.
Visitation will be at the Bossardet Chapel on Thursday, Jan. 31 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Interment at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on Baldwin Rd. in Oakwood.
Memorials to the American Diabetes Association are appreciated.