Alice Wilson Callum died at the age of 87 on September 10, 2014 after a short illness and a very long life.

Alice Emily Wilson was born on April 13, 1927 in Spencer, IA to Howard Anthony Wilson and Alice McMillan Wilson.  She was the youngest of four children and as the baby of the family her older siblings, Claire Wilson Scoltock, Jean Wilson Bailey, and John Wilson, always looked out for her.  Alice admired and loved her family dearly and once described her childhood this way:  “I have had the great good fortune of being born, as the last child of four, into a truly loving and caring family.”

Alice’s family valued education and she was always a good student.  Alice received her bachelor’s degree in history from Carleton College in 1949, her master’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1952 and, at the age of 51, her Juris Doctorate from the Detroit College of Law in 1978.  She was a Phi Beta Kappa at Carleton and used her intelligence throughout her life to find ways to help others achieve the same kind of success.

While at the University of Wisconsin, Alice met her future husband.  In 1952 Alice married Charles Leslie Callum, an Englishman of Scottish decent.  She was a hometown Iowa girl but she went on a great adventure when she married Les.  Their life together took them first to Scotland where Alice was able to explore Europe and later back in the United States to probably more places than Alice really wanted to live!  Alice and Les had two children, Ian Wilson Callum and Jean Rachel Callum.  Alice showed her children in many ways throughout her long life how much she loved them.  She was a good mother.

Once she graduated from law school, Alice forged a career as a lawyer and a college professor.  She was especially proud of the legal assistant program she directed at Eastern Michigan University between 1987 and 1998.  It was hard for her to retire at age 71 because work meant she was doing something of value and that was very important to her.  Nonetheless retirement enabled her to travel and volunteer.  She later moved to Massachusetts from Michigan and in the end to Georgia – each move to be closer to her family. 

Alice leaves behind her son, Ian and his spouse Pat Russell Callum and her daughter, Jean and her spouse Ronna M. Hoffmann.  Alice also leaves her much loved extended family in Massachusetts, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, Mississippi, and Oregon and many friends and colleagues throughout the United States.  She will be missed by all.  Finally it should not go without saying that Alice dearly loved the dogs in her life and it is comforting to think that she is with some of them now. 

Should you wish to contribute to something Alice valued you may do so by sending donations to either of these organizations that support students in achieving higher education:

Alice W. Callum Paralegal Studies Scholarship,  Eastern Michigan University 1349 South Huron  Ypsilanti, MI  48197      Phone:  734-481-2331

-or-

P.E.O. Foundation, P.E.O. Executive Office, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA  50312-2889.