William “Bill” McCall Jr.

William "Bill" McCall Jr was born March 21, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pa to the late Ruth and William McCall Sr. He was the eldest of seven and the family lived on Natrona Street in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia. He was affectionately known by his siblings and family as Gus, Racer, and Bub.

Bill received his formal education in the Philadelphia School System, where he attended Stokely Elementary School, John Wanamaker Middle School, and finally Thomas Edison High School, earning his high school diploma in 1965.

Bill accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at an early age. After going to different churches with his grandmother Sharon Burton, he joined New Light Beulah Baptist Church on December 31st, 1967. For 55 years, Bill was a dedicated member of the church, faithfully attended Sunday services, and showed love and support for his pastors. He consistently gave of himself and joyfully participated in numerous church auxiliaries including the Beulah Light Ushers, Trustee Board, Treasurer, Choral Ensemble, Celestial Choir, and Male Chorus. In 1987, under the tutelage and instruction of Pastor TC Killebrew, Bill was ordained a Deacon and was fondly referred to as one of, and final member, of the original 13 Deacons.

On October 8th, 1983, Bill married the love of his life Edith, who he would adoringly call Baby T (Toni) in a beautiful ceremony held at New Light Beulah Baptist Church at 17th and Bainbridge.

Bill entered the workforce force as a warehouse worker in the shipping and receiving industry for companies such as Penn Fruit, Timkin, and Butler. In 2004, he switched careers and became a truck driver for Breakthru Beverage where he delivered wine and spirits at locations throughout the city of Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs for 16 years until retiring in 2020. During this time, he developed a strong bond with a 22-foot box truck, which he named Brutus, and the two of them would travel the highways and byways together. Bill was an excellent driver and even achieved the best driving record in the entire company several years in a row. He would often speak fondly about the different routes he took to the different LCB stores and how he could break his personal record of unloading his cargo.

Bill loved sports especially football, basketball, and baseball and would spend his spare time watching games in his man cave. His favorite football team was the Philadelphia Eagles, and he would proudly wear his Eagles jerseys, jackets, and other paraphernalia every chance he got.

Ever since he was a young man, Bill had a passion for drag racing and would compete at local raceways such as Atco, where he won several trophies. He was the original owner of a 1969 Dodge Superbee, which he started making "streetable" as he would call it in 1999, a motor refresh in 2015, and a custom paint job by his good friend Chuck last year. He was even able to show off the finished product at a local car show in Lansdale in June of this year.

Bill adored dogs and for thirteen years he faithfully took Tyler, his beloved chocolate lab on walks throughout the neighborhood. Their presence was so well known that both Bill, and Tyler, were deputized as the Sheriff and the Deputy. Together the two of them become a one man, one dog neighborhood watch duo. Once Bill retired, and after the loss of Tyler in 2013, he was reassigned as the Mayor of Meadowood, where he held his post until his last day.

After the passing of Tyler, he waited and prayed 8 years until he found his daughter Phylicia, and son-in-law Omar, the puppy of their dreams, which they named Apollo. A German shorthaired pointer, Apollo captured his heart from the moment they laid eyes on each other on a farm in Manheim, Pa. Bill even held this little bundle the entire way home and tenderly called him his fuzzy grandson. Anyone who knew him got pictures, texts, or calls about Apollo and all his activities. He was so proud to have a dog in his life again and set a goal to get healthy enough to take his fuzzy grandson on a walk, just the two of them.

Bill was a loving husband, father, uncle, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He took his faith seriously, developing a profound and strong personal relationship with God. He would often say if you were worrying then you were not praying and if you are praying then you need not worry. He fervently talked about the goodness of the Lord and how His grace and mercy brought him through many trials and tribulations. He loved deeply and truly, sharing this love with all, even giving strangers kind words such as have a blessed day or to tell them that he would pray for them to help ease their heavy burdens.

Bill transitioned peacefully in his home in Warminster, Pa on Sunday October 9th after celebrating his 39th Wedding Anniversary, the previous day with his wife and children. Bill is preceded in death by his brother Scott McCall. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife Edith (Toni), two daughters Phylicia Ross and Aysha Samantha Godfrey, two sons Bill McCall III and Jermaine McCall, two son-in-law's Omar Ross and Kinyuan Godfrey, a daughter-in-law Sherry Hosler (McCall), two sisters Ruth Miller and Karen Brown, three brothers Frederick McCall, Bruce McCall, and Rick McCall, two granddaughters Alexus Johnson and Jocelyn Brown, one great granddaughter Leilani Johnson, and one great-granddaughter on the way, along with a host of family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

Lovingly submitted,

The Family