DON R. CALKINS
CAPT. Don R. Calkins, USNR-RET, 98, of Bonner Springs, KS passed away on Monday, February 14, 2022 at his grandsons home. Visitation will be from 11 am to 12 PM, and the Funeral services will follow at 12 PM noon both on Saturday, February 26 at the Alden Harrington Funeral Home in Bonner Springs, KS burial with full military honors to follow in the Bonner Springs Cemetery at Metropolitan and Sheidley Ave in Bonner Springs. Following the burial a meal will be served for friends and family, special memories of daddy can be shared at this time, please join the family at the Harrington event center, next to the funeral home.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the First Christian Church of Bonner Springs, the Vaughn-Trent Community Services or the City Union Mission all in care of the funeral home.
Don was born on October 20, 1923 in Independence, KS where he grew up and graduated from independence high school. In 1941, after high school, at the age of 18 he moved to California and worked building airplanes, soon after he joined the US Navy reserve in 1943 and served as a navy carrier pilot. In 1945 he met and married his wife Tealy and they moved to Bonner Springs to raise their family. Don worked for TWA as a pilot for 31 years becoming a Captain and serving as the General Manager of Transportation for Saudi Arabia Airlines for TWA. Don was preceded in death by his wife of over 70 years Tealy Calkins in 2015 and one son Michael K. Calkins "Mickey" in 2007 and one grand daughter Kelsey Thorton in 2019. He is survived by his two children Terry Calkins (Susan Korecky) of Kansas City, MO and Debbie Thompson (Mike) of Bonner Springs, KS. One sister Constance Tucker of Independence, KS, nine grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.