Joseph Wayne Callaway Jr., loving son, father
Joseph Wayne Callaway Jr., 48, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Camden, N.J. He was born in Milford Dec. 17, 1975, son of Janet Watson Callaway and the late J. Wayne Callaway.
He grew up in nearby Milton, graduating from Cape Henlopen High School in 1993. His education continued at Radford University in Radford, Va., with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Joey’s business career began with MBNA/Bank of America and continued with Wilmington Trust and the Bank of New York Mellon. One of his dreams was to not only work in New York City but to live there also, and he was able to make that dream come true for several years. Joey also earned an MBA from Pace University and was employed as a wealth manager at Boston Private Bank in NYC. A career highlight for him was having the opportunity to ring the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange.
Joey was predeceased by his father, J. Wayne Callaway; his paternal grandparents, Joseph and Virginia Callaway of Milton; and his maternal grandparents Jay and Estella Watson of Milford. He is survived by his mother, Janet Watson Callaway of Milton; and his three sons, Benjamin Ryan, Sean Michael and Owen Thomas, and their mother Erin McGarry Callaway of Robbinsville, N.J. Joey was always very proud to be the father of his sons, and they were the most cherished part of his life.
Many things in life made Joey happy. His family was first, especially his sons, along with his longtime treasured friendships. He also loved spending time outside, appreciating the beauty of nature, and he had a desire to learn interesting things and enjoy new experiences. Time with his sons was important and was usually spent enjoying the ordinary pastimes in life, like teaching the boys to fish, appreciate nature, and play competitive board games. They enjoyed their favorite times together and created fun memories to treasure. Joey also loved many special dogs throughout his life and was currently spoiling his King Charles Cavalier named Luna. Joey loved to read and always surrounded himself with his favorite books. He was eager to express his opinions, so having long conversations with him was expected. Traveling to experience new places, or being involved in the rapidly moving pace of New York City were appealing to Joey, but he also liked returning to Delaware to relax in Milton or explore Lewes. Those people who knew Joey best understood that one of the passions in his life was music. After meeting the members of Dave Matthews Band, when the group was formed during his college years, he became a devoted fan of their music and performances. Joey was also a dedicated fan of the band Phish. He attended many of the band’s concerts and often had their music playing. His favorite way to celebrate New Year’s Eve each year was to attend a Phish concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
It’s much quieter in the world of his family and friends now without the sound of Joey’s voice in lengthy conversations or his favorite music playing in the background.
