Penny Pelt Calvin, aged 95, passed from this earth to a new life on January 2, 2024.

Penny Elizabeth Pelt was born in Jackson County, Florida on June 11, 1928 to Lee Pelt and Thelma Bannie Metcalf Pelt.  She was the fifth of six children to be born to this couple; who farmed in the panhandle of Florida.  Born to be a bookkeeper, Penny loved numbers.  Her Dad, when they moved into town after their farmhouse burned, became the owner of a gas station.  There, Penny learned to count money, make change and keep books.  This provided the foundation for her ultimate career path.

In 1950, after working for a time at a Marianna peanut company, Penny moved from Florida to Durant, Oklahoma, to a branch office.  It was here she met the love of her life, William Earl ‘Bill’ Calvin.  They married in 1951, and over the next eight years, the couple had four children who blessed them with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  Her early married life was spent as a stay-at-home Mom; not unusual for the time.  Her focus was raising her children to be responsible, Christian adults.  Days were filled with teaching through assigned “jobs”, attending Sunday and Wednesday church services, trips to the library, where stacks of books were checked out, acting as a leader for clubs (e.g., 4-H, scouts), placing her children in as well as working at summer church camp, saving for occasional vacations around the United States and taking care of the daily cooking, chauffeuring and caring that “comes with the job”.  Her husband Bill, a traveling salesman, always said he never worried that his children would be well cared for.  He was right.

Most of her married life was spent in Alice and Portland, Texas.  When her youngest children were nearing the end of their high school years, Penny reentered the workplace, again picking up her bookkeeping career.  The primary motivation was likely to help pay off college bills but she enjoyed the structure and satisfaction that came from a job well done.  Over the years, she worked for the HEB Grocery Company, then headquartered in Corpus Christi, Nueces Trust Company, Gulf Concrete, South Texas Oil Field Supply and Mathieu Electric Company; all located in Corpus Christi.

About June of 1986, after both had retired, Penny and husband Bill sold their home and bought a 32-foot trailer to begin a six-year journey as vagabonds, making their way across the United States.  Their favorite summer stop was Livingston, Montana, just north of Yellowstone National Park.  Summer residents in the park became their friends and they welcomed any children, grandchildren and friends that made their way up to that scenic location.  By 1991, it was time to “settle down” again so they chose Santa Fe, NM as their home.  Until 2007, when they moved to Plano for their final years, they again welcomed one and all to visit, acting as tour guides to the various attractions found throughout the state. 

The move to Plano, TX came as health for both of them began to worsen.  Mom’s dementia became noticeable about 1999 but she and Dad were working through it.  Once Dad’s health began to decline, it became imperative they move closer to some of their children.  The ideal solution came with a move by their daughter Deborah to Plano.  The three of them moved in to a home together.  There were struggles due to their illnesses but joys in reengaging after years of living apart.  With the death of husband Bill in 2016, Penny spent one final year in the house before moving into a Memory Care facility.  That transition was hard but necessary and trooper that she was, Mom found her place, made friends, and ended up making a significant impact on the lives of both residents and staff.  Though diminished in mind, she was herself until the end. 

Penny Pelt Calvin was predeceased by parents Lee and Bannie Pelt, siblings Amos Earl Pelt, Sybil Maureen Pelt Curran, Thelma Chrystelle Pelt Caslar, Carl Leroy Pelt, Doris Dean Pelt Richardson and half-sister Sheryl Linda Pelt.  She is survived by daughter Deborah Karen Calvin of Plano, TX; son William Marc Calvin and wife Yvonne of Midland, TX; daughter Pamela Denise Calvin Jerden and husband Jay of Garland, TX; and son Shane Clinton Calvin and wife Cheryl of Dallas, TX.  Her grandchildren are Travis Calvin Gambill, Laura Nicole Gambill Hines and husband Chris, Allison Paige Calvin Self and husband Corey, Gregg Thomas Calvin and wife Kaylee and Sara Cathryn Calvin.  Her great-grandchildren are Jane Scott and Mary Michael Self.

Graveside Services will be held at DFW National Cemetery on 22 January 2024; 2 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Arms of Hope https://armsofhope.org/        

II Samuel 14:14 “Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we just die.  But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.”  God provided a plan of salvation with a home and life with Him forever.  Mom has met Dad and other family members in joy; waiting for us to join them in life ever after.