Wayne Earlson Calhoun Sr.
Wayne Earlson Calhoun Sr., 101, of Bella Vista, Ark., died at home Sunday, March 11,
2018.
He was born
Dec. 21,
1916, in Montrose, Mo., to the late Earl and Verda (Manbeck) Calhoun. He moved to Bella Vista from Tulsa in 1974 upon retiring from Sears & Roebuck. He and his wife, Ara Mae Calhoun, were leaders in the Bella Vista community. He was the branch manager of the Bella Vista Benton County Savings and Loan office in Town Center which later became Simmons Bank. He was instrumental in establishing the ambulance service with the fire department and the recycle center and was a volunteer at Helping Hands of Bentonville for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 79 years; and two brothers.
Survivors include his sister, Alice Jane Wagner (Les); two sons, Wayne E. Calhoun Jr. (Linda) of Bella Vista, and Charles E. Calhoun (Mary) of Denton, Texas; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista, where he and his wife were charter members, at 10 a.m Thursday, March 22, with the Reverend Jeanne Williams officiating. Having served in the China, Burma, and India Theater in World War II where he flew “The Hump” as a radio operator on a C-46, he will be buried at the V.A. National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista, AR 72715 or the Disabled American Veterans (DAV ).
Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.