07/23/2026
Obituary for John Douglas Call
John Douglas Call died on July 21, 2026, at his home in Fort Worth. He was born in Dallas on December 11, 1943, the only child of Norwood and Hazel Call. He grew up in Dallas, graduating from Sunset High School in 1962, Texas Christian University in 1966, and Brite Divinity School in 1970. While in seminary, he met Wanda Card, and they married in 1969.
After ordination as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), John completed a Clinical Chaplaincy Internship at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia. He then served five years as pastor of First Christian Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where sons Brian and Matthew were born, followed by five years at Highland Christian Church in Hobbs, New Mexico. During his ministry, he also volunteered as a hospital chaplain, helped establish a chaplaincy program at a new hospital, and served as an on-call chaplain for the Holiday Inn in Destin, Florida.
Believing his greatest gifts were in counseling, John moved with his family to Duncanville in 1981 to complete a Clinical Residency in Pastoral Counseling at the Pastoral Counseling and Education Center in Dallas. After the two-year residency, he joined the staff as a counselor, serving there for sixteen years. Seeking a less demanding role, he later became a teaching assistant in Duncanville ISD's special education department, primarily working with high school life skills students. He retired after eleven years, following a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in 2006.
John lived with Parkinson's disease for more than 20 years, remaining active, optimistic, and deeply engaged in life. He and Wanda were founding members of the Duncanville Parkinson's Group, part of the Dallas Area Parkinson Society, and active for 18 years before moving to Fort Worth in 2025.
A longtime member of First Christian Church, John served as an elder and Sunday School teacher. After retirement, he found lasting friendship in the men's group WPS (World Problem Solvers). He wrote poetry for more than 40 years, with work published in journals, a local poetry anthology, and, in 2023, a book of photography and poetry with his cousin David. Alongside his devotion to family and poetry, he enjoyed travel, roasting coffee, restoring vintage hats, making jewelry, and creating "stick art."
Preceded in death by both parents, John is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Wanda; sons Brian Call & wife Casey of Fort Worth, and Matthew Call & wife Melissa of Melbourne, Australia; grandchildren Beckett & Betsy Call of Fort Worth; brother-in-law Shannon Card & wife Kathy of Berryville, Arkansas; brother-in-law Martin Card & partner Diann Wittig of Houston; cousins, nieces and their families, and many friends.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, July 24 at 11:00 at First Christian Church, 203 S. Main St., Duncanville, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dallas Area Parkinson Society (daps.org) or First Christian Church of Duncanville (fccduncanville.org).
