Carol Frances McCallum

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of Carol Frances McCallum, who died on April 1, 2025, at the age of eighty-seven.

Carol McCallum was born in Washington, DC to Peter Francis McCallum and Caroline Miller McCallum - both of whom were DC natives. Carol was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Louise McCallum. She is survived by four daughters: Joy Gatewood, Julie Gatewood Baszkowski (Tom), Jennifer Embrey, and Jacqueline Gatewood. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Chris, Eric, Jordan, and Matthew; and three great-grandchildren: Devin, Ava, and Cora.

Carol was a hard worker throughout her life and had a long career working in private industry, the state of Maryland and the federal government. Her marriage to Jolly Gatewood took her and her daughters to live in Groton, CT and Brunswick, ME while he served in the US Navy. After that, Carol and her daughters returned to the Washington, DC area where Carol resumed her federal career. There, she eventually met her future husband, John Houseknecht, a veteran of the US Army. They were married for 16 years until he passed in 1998. After that, she moved to the Richmond, Virginia area to live near her daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Thomas Baszkowski and their children.

Carol loved cats, bird watching, gardening, reading, and baking. Her favorite place to vacation was Topsail Island, N.C., and she spent many memorable holidays surrounded by family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 12 - 1 pm on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Parkway, Mechanicsville, VA, 23111, with a service to follow at 1 pm.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.