CALVIN RAY DRING

born May 24, 1940 in Winnipeg, Manitoba went to be with the lord on August 28, 2021.

He is preceded in death by his wife Eleanor, parents Carroll and Hazel and brother Wayne. He is survived by his sons Danny (Deanna), Doug (Jan) and Dale. His nieces Suzanne and Daneen and his grandchildren Daniel (Emily), Ashlynn, Aison, Justin, Johnathan (Stacy) and Asa.

Cal was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba before moving as a teen to Fort William/Port Arthur Ontario where he met the love of his life Eleanor. During this time Cal worked selling appliances, furniture and cars before starting a career in broadcasting where he worked as a disc jockey at a small AM radio station. He then joined CKPR on television where he was an on air personality in both their radio and television platforms. It was during this time Cal and Eleanor started their family. Cal and family moved to Green Bay Wisconsin where he joined WFRV as a weatherman and hosted local shows including one with the Green Bay Packers during the Vince Lombardi era.

In 1969 Cal received a call from Bob Doubleday, president of KATV, prompting a move to North Little Rock, Ark., where he was the weatherman for KATV as well as cohosting and hosting such shows as the Vic Ames show, Master Key and Country Music Time later known as the Cal Dring show. While many offers were made to him to go to larger television markets, Cal and Eleanor fell in love with the people and state of Arkansas and remained there the rest of their lives. At KATV Cal transitioned into television advertising sales and became their National Sales Manager and later their General Sales Manager. After leaving KATV Cal was the General Sales Manager for KLRT and then finished his career with Signal Media as the Sales Manager for 103.7 the Buzz.

Cal was an avid outdoorsman and an ardent Green Bay Packer and Arkansas Razorback fan. His greatest joy was being around his grandchildren. His greatest attribute was his love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Cal’s celebration of life will be at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road, North Little Rock on Sept 2, 2021 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers Cal requests you call the people you love the most and tell them you love them. The Dring family would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Baptist Hospital’s NLR nursing and care staff who helped take care of him over the past few months.