Roland Calhoun

Roland L. Calhoun (Rolly) left us Sunday, Dec. 11th 2016 just eight days after his 88th birthday. His strong heart just gave out while he was in the ICU in Ruidoso at Lincoln County Medical Center holding his wife's hand. Soon after his death, phone calls and e-mails began pouring in telling how much Rolly was loved. A former student now a psychiatrist wrote "He was a wonderful man with a wonderful soul." A lawyer friend said, "He was the most special man I have ever known." A Niece said, "He was such a positive influence in my life from childhood on." A nephew said, "He was a wise counselor to me." The men at the Ruidoso post office said, after watching him coming in with his walker to collect mail, "He's the bravest man we know." And all expressed love for this kind, loving cheerful man.

Rolly was born in Sioux Falls, SD on a cold winter day December 3,1928 when his mother, Anna Frahm Calhoun was home alone. His father, Earl Calhoun, arrived soon after and being a man who could do anything, he took care of everything. Rolly was the youngest of four children: Courtney "Red", Audrey and Loella Calhoun were his older siblings. All of them died before Rolly. When the Great Depression began, Earl moved his family to a small farm so that he would be able to feed them. Later when Rolly was in primary school the family moved to Lancaster, CA. Rolly graduated from the high school in Lancaster. Before he graduated he was able to fish in Alaska, where his folks had moved at the end of WWII. After high school, Rolly joined the Navy and was stationed in Millington, TN and Pearl Harbor, HI. Earl requested that Rolly be released from the Navy because he, himself was ill. In Alaska Rolly met his first wife, Georgia Wallace. They planned for Rolly to go to college to become a dentist. At Fullerton Junior College in California, Rolly met an astounding psychology professor and switched his major to psychology. Roll/s hard work and high intelligence won him a scholarship to Claremont Men's College in California and later won him a fellowship to the University of Michigan where he earned his Master's and Ph. D. He went to Fullerton State College to teach Social Psychology. It was there that he met his second wife, Sydney Tardy. After her graduation, Roily and Sydney began fifty years of love.

Rolly leaves behind his wife, Sydney Calhoun, of Ruidoso, his four daughters: Deirdre Engstrom of Ruidoso; Glenna Foster of Kapaa, HI; Kathleen Engstrom of Gilchrist, OR; and Rosemary Wright and her husband Chris of Temecula, CA. His eight grandchildren: Emily McCollum of Bolinas, CA; Kris Nordbak and his wife, Jenny of Long Beach, CA; Katy Foster of Kapaa, HI; Karina Nordbak Araya and her husband, Nick of Inglewood, CA; Melia Foster of Kilauea, HI; Makani Foster of Kapaa, HI; Jolene Wright of Long Beach, CA; and Haleigh Solheim of Missoula, MT. And his six great-grandchildren: Chloe McCollum of Bolinas, CA; Charlotte McConnell of Kapaa, HI; Kainehe Hunt of Kilauea, HI; Charles McConnell of Kapaa, HI; Kahanu Rangel of Kilauea, HI and Xander Nordbak of Long Beach, CA.

Roily was predeceased by his parents, Earl and Anna Calhoun, his first wife, Georgia Wallace Calhoun, and his siblings: "Red" Calhoun, Audrey Haddox, and Loella Baker.

Funeral Services will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Mount at 121 Mescalero Trail, Ruidoso at 4:15 P.M. on Monday December 19th 2016 . A reception at the church will follow. In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions may be made to the Church of the Holy Mount or to the non profit senior organization: Sacramento Mountain Village.

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