Dr. W. Roscoe McCall

Dr. W. Roscoe McCall, 81, of Peoria passed away on December 15, 2023 at Carle-Methodist hospital. Dr. McCall was born on June 30, 1942 in Brewster, Florida to Rueben McCall, Sr. and Mary McCall. “Roscoe” was the 12th of 14 children born to this union. He was gifted academically, graduating second in his class (’61) from his beloved Union Academy High School in Bartow, Florida. While at Union he played fullback for the Tigers, under Coach Forest McKinnie. UA placed 6 players in the NFL, yet Roscoe is remembered by many as one of the finest football players in the program’s history. He was honored with induction into their Hall of Fame, and was fond of telling football stories. In 1963, after graduating from Gibbs Jr. College in St. Petersburg, FL with an AA in Biology, he came to Peoria to attend Bradley University. He graduated from Bradley in 1965 (BA- Biology). He received a BS degree in Pharmacy from Florida A & M University in 1971 and graduated dental school in 1976 from Meharry Medical College. He returned to Peoria in 1976 and became the fourth African American dentist in Peoria’s history, initially working at Peoria County Health Department. In 1977, he opened his private practice, which he operated for 29 years. He entered into semi-retirement in January of 2007, which lasted for three weeks. Having rested, he accepted employment as a dentist at Logan Correctional Institution in February 2007, and he worked on inmates until he retired in 2021. He was also active in service to the Peoria community as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He was active with the Tri-County Urban League and a lifelong member of the NAACP. He was preceded in death by his parents, 11 siblings, and his beloved daughter, Tonya J. McCall. He leaves to cherish his memory and continue his legacy his beloved wife of 59 years, Geraldine McCall; two sons, Pastor Steven (Valerie) and Attorney Christopher (Tiffany); seven grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Norman (Cheryl) and Hyrom (Eloise); and a host of loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Visitation will be on Thursday, December 28th from 6-8pm at Richwoods Christian Church, 8115 N. Knoxville Ave, Peoria. A second visitation will be December 29th from 10 am – noon, along with the Kappa Burial Ritual. The Celebration of Life will begin at noon. Pastor William Preston of City on a Hill Church will officiate. Pastor Steven McCall will be the eulogist. Funeral services are being handled by Simon’s Mortuary, with internment to be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens

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Dr. W. Roscoe McCall

June 30, 1942 - December 15, 2023