Byron Merrill Calvert, 74 years old of Crawfordsville, IN, passed away Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at St. Elizabeth in Crawfordsville, IN.

He was born June 21, 1941 in Lebanon, IN, son of the late James Frank and Mary Medrith (Porter) Calvert.

Byron was a member of the Providence Christian Church and most recently of the Woodland Heights Christian Church, the Hazelrigg Lodge F&A.M., the John Purdue Club, the Fast Breakers Club and the Elk Breeders Association.

He graduated from the New Ross High School and the Purdue Flight Program and went on to become an airline pilot captain flying for US Air for 25 years, retiring in 1993. He also worked as an elk rancher at the Walnut Fork Elk Ranch. He served his country in the US National Guard in the air battalion.

In addition to his wife, Victoria (Terry) Calvert, he is survived by his daughters, Cynthia (Ian) Beveridge of Crawfordsville, Deborah Calvert of Indianapolis and Patricia (Adam) Skelton of New Market and grandson, Franklin Skelton.

He was preceded in death by his late wife Deanna Gayle Calvert, the mother of his children.

Family and friends will gather Friday, January 15, 2016, 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the Porter Funeral Home, Jamestown, Indiana. Services will be held at the funeral home, Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Tony Thomas officiating. Merrill will be laid to rest in the Pisgah Cemetery, Crawfordsville, IN.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Woodland Heights Christian Church, c/o Woodland Heights Rangers, 468 N. Woodland Heights Drive, Crawfordsville, IN 47933

You may visit our website, www.porterfuneralhome.us, to sign his online register and leave a personal message.