William Benjamin Calhoun III of Sugar Land, Texas passed away peacefully on Monday, February 27, 2023 at the age of 79 with his loving wife, Rose, by his side. He was born on February 15, 1944 in Tyler, Texas where he enjoyed the freedom of a small town Texas boyhood. His family moved to Houston for Bill's high school years where he cruised Memorial Drive in his MG and danced on the Larry Kane show.
Bill graduated from Southwestern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 1966 and from UTMB Galveston with a Master’s degree in Biochemistry in 1969. Bill was a member of KA Fraternity and enjoyed lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers.
Bill held positions in the pharmaceutical industries and with manufacturers of medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers. He ended up in the defense industry; programs included project manager on Cruise Missiles, spy satellite guidance systems, and finally heading process control evaluations.
Bill was actively involved in Christ Church Sugar Land, a United Methodist Community. Bill participated in Bible studies and various service activities such as Habitat for Humanity and Home Repair Ministry and, in the last few years, The Gathering (a social gathering for people with Alzheimer’s). Over the years, Bill volunteered with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Westlake Village Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff and Sugar Land Police Department. Bill was a long time member of the American Society for Quality, including service on the National Board of Directors.
Bill enjoyed painting and photography with publications in the LA Times and popular photography magazines. He also won a number of blue ribbons for his photography at the Ventura County Fair.
Bill is preceded in death by his father William Benjamin Calhoun, Jr., mother Evelyn Williams Calhoun and sister Anne Calhoun Loyd.
Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, Rose Taylor Calhoun, niece Amy Loyd and precious honorary grandchildren Sophie, Ashland and Joel Hunter Castellon. Nothing made him happier than hearing the children call him Abu.
Bill so enjoyed traveling with his wife Rose. He was a lifelong adventurer whether motorcycling and camping, sailing, flying over an active volcano, landing on a glacier for a hike, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef or taking a photograph next to a Bengal tiger.
The family would like to thank Javier Rico, the Vantage Hospice staff and the Treemont Health Care Center staff for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in his final days. Bill especially enjoyed walks in the park with the dogs and Javier during the last few years
Visitation with the family will be 5pm – 9pm with Rosary at 7pm on Friday March 10, 2023 at Forest Park Lawndale 6900 Lawndale St. Houston, TX 77023
Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery 2400 S Donnybrook Ave, Tyler, TX 75701 at 3pm Saturday March 11, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Bill’s honor to Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org/donate
Bill was a generous and loving man who will be greatly missed.
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