Gretchen Call

Gretchen Rajib Call age 93 died at Assisted Living at Franke at Seaside in the care of Hospice on June 19, 2026. Born in Miami, Fl. to Marie Polgalz and John Rajib.

Gretchen graduated from Miami High and received her RN at Orlando Orange Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Gretchen returned to Miami where she worked at Variety Children’s Hospital. She met the love of her life, James “Jim” H. Call, on a blind date and they married in 1956. With all their friends moved away and starting their families, Jim and Gretchen felt the need to play "catch up". And "catch up" they did! Jim and Gretchen celebrated their first anniversary with a 1 month old daughter, Jennifer, followed by twins Julie and Craig. Sadly, Craig passed away as a young infant. To finish out their "planned" (heh heh) family of 5, they reached their 'quota' 17 months later when their 3rd daughter Jamie was born.

Gretchen became a full time Mom coming up with creative low cost meals enriched with a lot of green beans and home made cookies for the kids’ delight. When the family moved to Greensboro NC, Gretchen went back to nursing once their daughters started school. She worked at Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro NC. Later when the family moved to Myrtle Beach, she worked for Grand Strand Hospital. After their 3 daughters graduated from college and married, Jim eased into retirement and they settled in Georgetown SC. Jim and Gretchen spent the next 10+ years camping across the USA and Canada enjoying the beautiful parks and travel adventures in their beloved Airstream. Their extensive travel adventures included Europe, Caribbean and various cruises. During the in-between times, Jim and Gretchen were both active volunteers in the Lutheran Churches they attended. Gretchen was a member of the first volunteer hospice organized in Myrtle Beach with the help of the Sisters of Charity, which originated in 1809 in Charleston SC. In addition to her work with the church, Gretchen was a girl scout leader, and a volunteer at the Baskerville Clinic, the Salvation Army, Pawleys Island Clinic, and Hospice in Georgetown.

Gretchen and her husband, Jim, resided in a cottage at Franke at Seaside in Mt. Pleasant SC since 2002. Gretchen was a volunteer at Meals on Wheels, Franke Residents Council and she was well known for her famous banana bread loaves and loaded bran muffins. She enjoyed sharing flowers with friends from her garden where she could often be found digging in the dirt.

Gretchen is predeceased by her husband James H. Call, parents Marie Polgalz and John Rajib, infant son Craig Andrew, brother Kemal Rajib, and her beloved cockapoos Bear and Sophie.

Gretchen is survived by her 3 daughters, Jenifer Edwards (Robert), Julie Ann Call (Wade),Jamie Call Blankinship (Joe), 6 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren, Sister-in-Law Ann Rajib, and 2 nieces.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful staff at Franke at Seaside, Lutheran Hospice, and Be Well for their attentive and loving care of our mother.

A service of worship and thanksgiving will be held on July 20, 2026 at 10:30am at the Rodenberg Chapel at Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Franke Chapel Fund, Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Rd., Mt. Pleasant SC 29264, Lutheran Hospice, 1885 Rifle Range Rd., Mt Pleasant SC 29464, Meals on Wheels Feeding Friends, PO Box 853, Mt Pleasant SC 29465

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464 (843) 884-3833