Ronald L. Calhoun

Ron Calhoun, known for his devotion to family and generosity toward others, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 9, 2025, after a short stay at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis. He lived a vibrant life, always was kind and retained his playful sense of humor until his passing.

Ron was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1942, the son of Virgil and Erma (Greer) Calhoun. He graduated from Lincoln High School where he played sports, earned the nickname “Cagey Calhoun” from his football coach and later served as team manager. Ron knew the value of hard work from a young age, working as a paperboy, delivery boy at a local pharmacy, and assisting his parents by tending and selling vegetables or helping in his parents’ upholstery business. He was a skilled bellringer for St. Paul United Methodist Church; it was in the church’s youth group that he met the love of his life and future wife, Charlotte (Towle) Calhoun. They married after high school and built a fantastic life together.

While Ron started his professional career as an assistant manager for Safeway in Lincoln, he was drawn by the call to be an entrepreneur and run his own businesses. The couple set out for McPherson, Kansas where they opened Calhoun Upholstery, with Ron doing the upholstery and Charlotte handling draperies.  Ron strongly believed in small business mentorship; he and Charlotte owned and operated several businesses in McPherson.  He sold the upholstery business to an employee and then purchased Sheets Adams Realtors where he led a successful career as a real estate agent and broker.  Later Ron and Charlotte purchased and operated McPherson Copyright print shop. They raised their three daughters in McPherson and resided there until retirement when they moved to St. Louis, Missouri to be closer to some of their grandchildren.

Ron’s commitment to his community was wide-ranging. He served as chair of the McPherson Chamber of Commerce, on the board of his church, was a long-time fundraiser for McPherson Hospital and was a devoted blood donor to the Red Cross. To help college students prepare for potential careers as entrepreneurs, Ron served as a guest lecturer at McPherson College where he shared insights on how to start and run a successful small business. He volunteered as a Sunday School teacher, with Habitat for Humanity and in the McPherson Community Theater where he relished being cast in leading roles, including “Last of the Red Hot Lovers.” Later in life he was an active participant in the St. Louis Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association where he became a friend to all he met.

Ron was an adventurer at heart.  He obtained his pilot’s license and enjoyed taking family on sometimes harrowing trips.  Ron savored both domestic and international travel.  He rejoiced in learning about new cultures and exploring new cities, often on foot in the early morning hours to witness both the city and its inhabitants awake. Ron was a poet, crafting poems to celebrate birthdays, holidays, anniversaries or just simply the day. He was a daredevil and a bit mischievous, delighting in bombing down a ski run, doing stunts with his daughters on their horse Cody, or having escapades at Lake Kanopolis with family and friends on his boat where he earned the title “Captain Chaos.”

Nothing was more important to Ron than his family. He adored Charlotte, his wife of 63 years. He loved deeply his three daughters, welcomed their husbands into his family and reveled in traveling with them both domestically and abroad. He was energized by attending events for his grandchildren, whether it was tennis, golf, cross country, cheer, gymnastics, swimming, art shows, choral or performing arts. No matter the function, he was immensely proud and supportive. He drank in the role of grandfather or “Papa” as he affectionately was called, taking his grandkids on hair-raising golf cart rides over the “runaway train bridge” and spinning tales of Trooper the Fox, Checkers the Turtle and Trap the Beaver who all lived beside the creek.

Ron will always be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and sense of humor.  He consistently was present in conversations, deeply interested the “person” and what they were experiencing. He had a twinkle in his eye and invariably viewed the world with great optimism. One of his favorite pieces of advice was to choose opportunity over security.

Ron is survived by his wife Charlotte; daughters Cheri (Brian) Tajchman, Carmen (Stephen) Censky and Cathy (Bernie) Gollwitzer; grandchildren Alan (Chelsea) Tajchman, Sarah (Rob) Wild, Abigail (Ben) Censky-Kieklak, Zach (Bethany) Gollwitzer; Lindsey (George) Costello, Emma Censky and Kristen Gollwitzer; and great grandchildren Jack, Leo, Hazel, James and Everly with more on the way.

Services: Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life service followed by lunch at Manchester United Methodist Church, 129 Woods Mill Rd, Manchester, MO on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Visitation is at 10 a.m. with the celebration of life service at 11 a.m. followed by lunch in the fellowship hall. Memorial donations may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, the Manchester United Methodist Church's Endowment Fund, or de Greeff Hospice House, 10024 Kennerly Road, St. Louis, MO 63128.

As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.