Calvin M Cheney Obituary (1921 - 2017)

Service: 11 o'clock, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 Place: Lithonia First United Methodist Church Visitation: 6 - 8 Monday evening Place: Henry Funeral Home, Lithonia Cal Cheney, age 96, of Covington died August 10, 2017. Cal enlisted in the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and was sent to the Chelsea Navy Yard in Boston, MA where he set up the X-Ray and Radiology Departments. While in Boston, he met the love of his life, Barbara Caley, at a USO function. He was sent to Pearl Harbor to join the Pacific Fleet, where he served as a Pharmacist Mate 1st Class on the ship U.S.S. Wilkes-Barre, CL-103, during World War II. Cal was sent onshore as a medic to help the survivors at Iwo Jima where he saved countless lives. He was also involved in the rescue of the Marines and Sailors on the U.S.S. Bunker Hill after the ship was attacked by the kamikazes. Cal was present at Tokyo Bay at the signing of the Japanese surrender, where he represented his ship, the U.S.S. Wilkes - Barre, on the U.S.S. Missouri. Cal remained in Japan to serve the humanitarian mission after the conclusion of the Pacific War. He was one of the men who started the Avondale Little League in 1958 and coached the Pirates baseball team for over 30 years. He was very influential in the lives of many boys who were like a second family to him. After retiring as a Claims Manager for the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, he became very well known for his "Memories in Glass" stained glass sculptures. He was a Mason, a member of the Kiwanis and Lions clubs, and was an avid musician, playing at many nursing homes with the group "The Saddle Sores". Cal loved people and touched the lives of many - never meeting anyone who didn't love him. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Barbara C. Cheney; mother, Rachel Gomez; and brother, Frank Cheney. Surviving are his daughter, Christine Williams and her husband, Calvin, of Avondale Estates; son, Conrad Cheney and his wife, Johnnie, of Covington; grandchildren, Jason Irby, Caley Cheney, Carson Neal, and Dylan Cheney, Erin Williams, Jonathan Williams, Melissa Smith, Kasey Womble, and Heather Weeks; great grandchildren, Savannah Irby, Mary Neal, Sam Neal, Matthew Neal, Chance Williams, Bryce Williams, Finley Williams, and Lily Womble. A funeral service will be held 11 o'clock Tuesday, August 15 at the Lithonia First United Methodist Church with Rev. Leon Matthews and Dr. Jim Martin officiating. Interment will be 11:30 o'clock on Wednesday, August 16 at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton with military honors. The family will receive friends 6 - 8 Monday evening at Henry Funeral Home, Lithonia. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made in his memory to the Lithonia First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 6, Lithonia, GA 30058.