Jack Callaghan

Jack Kenneth Callaghan, 86, of Carlisle, died Saturday, December 3, 2011, at home after a lengthy illness.
Jack was born in Tulsa, OK, on July 28, 1925, to Harry L and Mary F (Goodman) Callaghan. He was educated in Tulsa schools. On his seventeenth birthday, Jack enlisted in the Marine Corps. With the 1st Marine Division in WWII, he served in the Pacific theater, where he was wounded in action on Cape Gloucester, New Britain. He was awarded a Purple Heart, a Marksman ribbon, an American Campaign Service ribbon, an Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Service ribbon, a National Defense ribbon, and a WWII Service ribbon.
Before being discharged from the Marine Corps, he met Velma Joy Castle. They were married on January 20, 1946, and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary shortly before her death in May 2011. She was the love of his life.
Together they raised four great children who survive him: Mary Ann Callaghan (Gregory Snyder) of Harrisburg, Kathleen Zarnowski (Richard) of Carlisle, William Harry Callaghan (Mary Beth) of Longmont, CO, and Patricia Miller (Andrew) of Chambersburg.
Surviving also are seven grandchildren: Joseph M. Walker, Christopher Walker, Jeanine Walker, Tatiana Zarnowski, Genevieve Zarnowski, Andrew Callaghan, and Anna Callaghan, and four great grandchildren. He is also survived by his younger brother, Harry L. Callaghan, of Web City, MO, several nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog Hugo.
He was preceded in death by his older brother, James Robert Callaghan, of Doylestown.
Jack worked for Gulf Refining Co. in Seminole, OK, from 1945 to 1957 when he transferred to Laurel Pipeline Co. in Camp Hill, PA. In 1961 he bought Carlisle Beverage Distributor. Jack and Joy achieved the dream of owning a farm in East Pennsboro Twp, where they lived for 30 years.
Jack proudly served with the Cumberland Co Honor Guard, American Legion. He was also a member of the US Marine Corps League, 1st Marine Division Assn, VFW, Purple Heart Assn, and Elks.
A celebration of Jack’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle. Entombment will be in Westminster Mausoleum with military honors conducted by Cumberland County Honor Guard. A viewing will held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cumberland County Honor Guard, Suite 103, 18 N. Hanover St., Carlisle, PA 17013, or the Lewis B Puller, Jr. Detachment 524, Marine Corps League, PO Box 1078, Carlisle, PA 17013.