Donald Calfee

PRINCETON - Donald E. Calfee, 88, of Green Valley, Princeton, died Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in a fall. Born May 2, 1925, in Bluefield, he was the son of the late Clarence Calfee and Alice Hager Calfee. Don was a member of Greenview United Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II aboard the USS Merrilll (DE 392). In recent years, Don attended several reunions of his shipmates, being the youngest and one of only five surviving crew members. After the war, he worked for a time for Church Auto Sales then worked at the family-owned Clover Dew Dairy until it closed in 1977. Don was later employed by West Virginia Armature, Bluestone Paving, MJ Electric and United Hydraulics. Don had a strong work ethic and worked well past his 85th birthday. One of his favorite sayings was, "I need a raise in pay and more vacation." His special pastime was listening to a variety of music. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Robinette Calfee in 1981; three brothers, Carl Calfee, James "Bud" Calfee and Clarence Calfee, Jr.; and two sisters, Irene Dye, and his twin, Dorothy Strother. Survivors include two daughters, Donna Wikle and husband Stan of Princeton and Debbie Faw and husband Jon of Pearisburg, VA; two grandsons, Brian Wikle and wife Kara of Bluefield and Gavin Faw of Pearisburg, VA; three sisters, Frances Witt of Glen Lyn, VA, Betty Renfroe of Mississippi and Jeanette O'Quinn and husband Lester of Princeton; several nieces and nephews; three step-grandchildren, Josh Faw and wife Lana, Candace Faw and Summer Carter and husband Joe; and special caregiver, Hope Click. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at the Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with Rev. Joe Robinette officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton where military graveside rites will be conducted by the West Virginia National Guard Honor Guard and the Mercer County Veterans Council. Family will serve as pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Calfee to: Disabled American Veterans, P. O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. Friends may visit from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. To view a video tribute to Mr. Calfee, or send the family online condolences, please visit www.bailey-kirk.com.

Tributes

Donald Calfee

September 28, 2013