Paul Alan McCalla

Paul Alan McCalla of Columbus, age 93, died February 18, 2023 at Ohio Living Westminster Thurber. He was born on October 7, 1929 in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio.  Paul spent his first 16 years with his parents, two sisters and two brothers on the family farm on Egypt Pike in Union Twp. He was youngest of the five children born to Ralph and Ethel (Stratton) McCalla.  He is predeceased by his parents; his wife Charlotte (Zeller) McCalla, sisters Margaret J. Crago and Ann Noren, brothers George and David, and his son Rev. Mark Alan McCalla.  He is survived by his two daughters, Melinda S. (Thomas) Vasila of Placida, FL and Jodie K. McCalla (Terry Huge) of Cincinnati OH; granddaughter, Hayley Ann Huge; grandsons, Benjamin Paul (Kayla) McCalla and Samuel Alexander McCalla; great grandson Apollo Mark McCalla, step grandchildren, Alan (Winona) Eargle and Lauren (Nathan) Sapp; step great grandchildren, Wilhelm, Elly, Fletcher, and Caulfield Eargle, many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Paul started his formal education in the Pleasant Valley one room brick schoolhouse in Union Twp. Ross County Ohio. He then attended the brand new Unioto High School.  He left the farm when he was 16 and graduated from Chillicothe High School.  He subsequently relocated to Chicago and graduated from the Chicago Technical College. While working his way through college as a night clerk at the Chicago YMCA residence hotel, he met his future wife, Charlotte Zeller.  They married on March 28, 1953 in Chicago. He served in the Third Armored Division of the U.S.  Army from 1953 to as 1955 at Fort Knox, KY. Paul worked 40 years as an Architectural Engineer for the firm of Schooley Caldwell  Associates, Architects and Engineers, retiring as the their Vice President.  He was a project team leader for most of their professional projects including the company’s overseas work in Guatemala, El Salvador, Spain, Haiti, and India.  He ended his professional practice with the firm in 1995. His final project was the Ohio State House Renovation on the Capitol Square in downtown Columbus, Ohio.  Paul’s spiritual growth began with his Sunday school classes at Pleasant Valley Methodist Church; as a young lad he accept Christ as his Savior at the Dry Run Methodist Church. He grew in his faith as member of the Chillicothe Presbyterian Church, being their president of Westminster Fellowship. After his marriage to Charlotte, they joined Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio on December 25, 1955. He was always active in his Church, serving the Lord most of his life.  He was an Ordained Elder and an Ordained Deacon of the Presbyterian Church, PCUSA and was a Past Moderator of the Presbytery of Scioto Valley, PCUSA.  He was active in mission work of the Church, spending a year as a mission volunteer in Sitka, Alaska and participating on mission trips to Mexico, Thailand and Croatia. Paul enjoyed traveling, hobbies and civic activities as well.  He loved spending time with his extensive back yard garden railroad. He was awarded a “LIFE” member status of the Tri-Village Lions Club helping serve the needs of the Tri-Village Community. Paul was awarded The Lion International Melvin Jones Fellow for his humanitarian service.  Paul always said he was a footprint of his parents.  His father was born on a farm near Chillicothe on December 11, 1898.  His mother was born in County Armagh, North Ireland near the small town of Market Hill on September 23, 1898. Being in his early nineties, Paul was looking forward to the blessing of soon seeing his departed family members and trusting God to watch over those remaining whom he loved so much. Melinda and Jodie would like to thank his compassionate nurses, caregivers and his healthcare team at Westminster Thurber for their kind, loving care of our beloved Dad. Paul’s memorial service will be held at Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1235 Northwest Boulevard, Columbus, OH  43212 on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.  Friends may meet with the family an hour and a half before the service in the church's lounge. Private interment will be in the Greenfield, Ohio cemetery at a later date.  Paul requested that gifts be given in his memory to Boulevard Presbyterian Church's Deacon's Mission Fund, and/or the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio, 1379 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH  43215.  Funeral arrangements are by the Deyo-Davis Funeral Home, Columbus, Ohio.  Online condolences may be made at deyodavis.com.

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