Edward Calhoon, 71, a longtime resident of Arnold, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 after living with Parkinson's Disease and kidney cancer for more than two decades.

He was born on June 28, 1942 to Abigail and Loren Calhoon in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Mark Keppel High School in 1960. He was an avid tuba player, winning a competitive spot in the All-State California Orchestra. After joining the U.S. Army at 17, he won a spot in the prestigious U.S. Army Field Band at Fort Meade which toured all the lower 48 states including events such as the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle.

From the time he was a teenager, he was a longtime licensed ham radio operator, so after his time with The U.S. Army Field Band, he followed his interest in electronics. He later volunteered for Vietnam in 1971 and served eight months as a company commander where he was exposed to Agent Orange. He retired as a Major after thirty years with the U.S. Army Reserves. He also retired from a career with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce where he was a computer analyst.

Edward was always a gentleman, a man of integrity and honor, and of strong Christian faith. He attended the Princeton Seminary after leaving Vietnam. He was a choir member and a cantor at St. John's the Evangelist Church in Severna Park. He was a devoted family man, the family cook, and enjoyed the family pets over the years. He had a gracious attitude in front of his deteriorating health, going to the gym four days a week until October 2013, even with his walker.

For years he participated as a member of the The Bay Winds Band of Annapolis. He also loved playing competitive bridge at the Arnold Senior Center and eating at the Double TT Diner in Annapolis. He wrote poetry, publishing a book about his time in Vietnam titled Vietnam Junkyard. He published sixteen poems and won two poetry contests. He was intelligent and loved knowledge, so he was understandably a long-time fan of the shows It's Academic and Jeopardy. He was also an avid fan of The Orioles and The Ravens.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Katherine Myers Calhoon; one brother, Ron Calhoon of Cantonment, Florida; one sister, Elaine Dasher of Guyton, Georgia; one daughter, Julie Semenuk of Mt. Airy; two sons, Edward Calhoon, Jr. of Annapolis, Michael Calhoon of Annapolis; and five grandchildren, Seth, Allison, Keane, Jaime and Natalie.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be given to the ASPCA of Annapolis.

Friends may visit on Wednesday January 29, 2014 from 2-4 & 6-8:00pm at the Barranco & Sons,P.A Severna Park Funeral Home 495 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146. Mass of Christian burial will be Celebrated on Thursday January 30, 2014 at 10:00am in the St. John Catholic Church 689 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146. Interment in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery Crownsville, MD.