Walter William Call was born in Hopkins (Ashe County), North Carolina, on May 21, 1890. After attending Appalachian State Teacher’s College, Call moved to North Wilkesboro (Wilkes County) in 1910 and worked as a salesman in his cousin Clarence Call’s department store. After attending business school in Virginia for two years, he returned to North Wilkesboro in 1914 and founded his own clothing store. In addition to his clothing business, Call owned a car dealership, as well as North Wilkesboro’s main taxi and bus company. He died in North Wilkesboro on November 12, 1926.