Lewis Calvin Moore

Lewis Calvin Moore

Sunrise- June 22, 1935 Sunset- September 19, 2021

Born in Canton, Mississippi in 1935, Calvin was the fourth of twelve children (10 Boys and 2 Girls) born to the union of Sam Anderson and Lovenia Moore. In the late 1940s, looking for a better life for his family, Sam moved the family to Indianapolis, Indiana. Once settled in the Midwest, several members of the family found gainful employment at National Starch. Being a family of faith, the family made, and continues to make South Calvary Baptist Church their place of worship spanning many generations.

In his early years, during his high school career at Manuel School, Calvin was an astute student and showed maturity and wisdom beyond his years. While destined for college, Calvin made a decision to temporarily follow his father and brothers at National Starch in what we would now call a Gap Year. What many people did not know, was that while out one night at the skating rink with his older brother Sammie, a young lady by the name of Delores Thurman caught his eye and the rest was history; that Gap Year turned out to be the beginning of a historic career.

Calvin and Delores were brought together in holy matrimony on September 29, 1956. They began one of the most poetic love stories of all time. This commitment of love brought 3 children, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren to date.

A natural leader and dynamic communicator, Calvin was quickly identified as a union steward with National Starch. His passion for equality and workers rights earned him the position of local Rep with AFL-CIO, which required him to move the family to Houston Texas in 1976. Just two years later, Calvin was promoted to a District Rep and moved his family to the Nation’s Capital: Washington, DC, where he began to travel both domestically and abroad. He chaired many committees, organized strikes, and negotiated many labor agreements bringing health, safety, and quality of life improvements to thousands of labor works.

In 1979, Calvin set out for what would be a historical election for the position of International Executive Vice President of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union. This victory would establish Calvin as one of the first black elected Union Officials in the United States. In a landside win with the slogan, “Get Moore with L. Calvin Moore”, this international position took Calvin and his family to Denver, Co where he would serve until retirement in 1996. Calvin would continue to be re-elected every four years, many times, uncontested.

Calvin found himself rubbing elbows with notable names like Muhammad Ali, former US President Jimmy Carter, and even serving as an official observer during the historical apartheid-ending election of Nelson Mandela. Continuously wanting to show off his beautiful bride, Delores Although a man of many gifts and talents, Calvin’s passion was for family, friendship, and faith. All that met and broke bread with Calvin would find themselves rewarded by his sharing of knowledge, philosophy, dignity, and sacrifice. He was a man that would look you in the eye and make you feel that you were important to him, a lifelong friend.

While perfection was reserved for only one that walked this earth, Cavin’s multitude of talents from carpentry, engineering, writing, oratory presentation, leadership, and unifying people, you knew that his gifts were from God and he used them with the humility and the love of our Father.

At this time, Calvin would not want us to be saddened by his departure from this world. He would say, my time here is done but rest assured, I am working harder than ever for the Father and preparing a place for my wife and I to share glory for eternity.

Although a man of many gifts and talents, Calvin’s passion was for family, friendship, and faith. All that met and broke bread with Calvin would find themselves rewarded by his sharing of knowledge, philosophy, dignity, and sacrifice. He was a man that would look you in the eye and make you feel that you were important to him, a lifelong friend.

While perfection was reserved for only one that walked this earth, Cavin’s multitude of talents from carpentry, engineering, writing, oratory presentation, leadership, and unifying people, you knew that his gifts were from God and he used them with the humility and the love of our Father.

At this time, Calvin would not want us to be saddened by his departure from this world. He would say, my time here is done but rest assured, I am working harder than ever for the Father and preparing a place for my wife and I to share glory for eternity.

Lewis Calvin Moore is the son of: Sam Anderson Moore and Lovenia Merrit. Husband of Delores Moore; father of Kelly Lynn Sanders, Thurman Lewis Moore and Anderson Calvin Moore; grandfather of Kelsey Delores Sanders, Donavan Lewis Sanders, Anderson Malique Moore, Ashley Lynn Sanders, Aaron Lawrence Sanders, Na'ilah Quelynn Moore, Imani Niara Rose Moore, Arrington Omari Rashad Moore, Lawrence James Sanders and Jason Wesley Sanderson; great-grandfather of Jaslynn and Brendoly Sanders, McKenzie Lynn Sanders-Hawkins, Kingston James Watford and Dallas Lynn Watford. He was a brother, uncle, friend, father-in-law, surrogate father and mentor to many, many more.

A reception for Lewis will be held Wednesday, September 29, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E. Girard Ave., Denver, CO 80224, followed by a memorial service from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lewis' memory may be made to American Cancer Society , 10065 E Harvard Ave Ste 400, Denver , CO 80231; and American Kidney Foundation , 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, Maryland 20852 US.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Moore family.