Calvin F. Paynter, A Great American

CALVIN F. PAYNTER A GREAT MAN LEFT THIS EARTH TO MEET HIS MAKER ON MARCH 18, 2014 AND BE REUNITED IN THE WAITING ARMS OF HIS WIFE OF 65 YEARS, VIVIAN CARPENTER PAYNTER WHO PRECEDED HIM IN DEATH ON OCTOBER 20, 2008. CALVIN F. PAYNTER “THE FLAG MAN” WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA ONLY 5 MILES FROM OUR FLAG CREATOR BETSY ROSS’ HOUSE. HE WAS THE THIRD CHILD OF ETHEL AND HARRY PAYNTER OF PHILADELPHIA. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS SONS CALVIN FREDERICK PAYNTER JR. OF MARIETTA GEORGIA AND RONALD C. PAYNTER AND HIS WIFE SHELIA OF AUSTIN TEXAS; FIVE GRAND CHILDREN, CALVIN FREDERICK PAYNTER III AND HIS WIFE KELLY OF MARIETTA GA, JOE PAYNTER AND HIS WIFE JENNIFER AND SCOTT PAYNTER ALL FROM ROSWELL GEORGIA, CRAIG PAYNTER AND HIS WIFE REBECCA FROM FORT WORTH TEXAS AND KATHERINE PAYNTER FROM AUSTIN TEXAS; AND THREE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN CLAUDIA, COLIN AND VIVIAN DAISY. CAL WAS A GRADUATE OF OLNEY HIGH SCHOOL IN THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA AND GRADUATED FROM TEMPLE UNIVERSITY IN FEBRUARY OF 1943 WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN COMMERCE. AFTER LISTENING TO THEN PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELTS SPEECH REGARDING WORLD WAR II, HE WAS INSPIRED TO ENLIST IN THE ARMED FORCES. HE WAS NOT SURE WHICH BRANCH OF SERVICE HE WANTED TO JOIN UNTIL ONE OF HIS BEST FRATENITY FRIENDS TOLD HIM ABOUT A DIVISION THAT WAS RECRUITING SOLDIERS TO LEARN WARFARE ON SKIS. HE JOINED THE ARMY AND HEADED WEST TO CAMP HALE COLORADO NEAR WHAT IS NOW VAIL, TO JOIN F COMPANY, 86TH MOUNTAIN INFANTRY REGIMENT, THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION. THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION IS CREDITED WITH NEUTRALIZING FIVE GERMAN DIVISIONS AND WAS THE FIRST ALLIED DIVISION TO REACH AND CROSS THE PO RIVER. WHILE AS A STAFF SERGEANT AND SQUAD LEADER IN COMBAT IN ITALY, HE WAS AWARDED A BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH “V” FOR VALOR, A SECOND BRONZE STAR FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, A PURPLE HEART AND COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE. AFTER RETURNING FROM THE WAR, CAL ENJOYED A VERY SUCCESSFUL 37 YEAR CAREER IN SALES AND MARKETING WITH THE NESTLE COMPANY, WHERE HE MADE MANY LIFE LONG FRIENDS. HE RETIRED AS CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT, NESTLE USA, IN WHITE PLAINS, NY. ONE OF HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS THE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION AND MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO INTRODUCE TASTERS CHOICE COFFEE. IN 1984 CAL AND HIS WIFE VIVIAN MOVED FROM CONNECTICUT TO ST. SIMONS ISLAND GEORGIA TO RETIRE AND ENJOY THE “GOOD LIFE”. HE WAS AN AVID GOLFER AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SEA PALMS MEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION. HE ALSO ENJOYED GOOD FOOD AS A MEMBER AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE GOLDEN ISLES GOURMET CLUB. CAL KEPT GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIS WWII FRIENDS AS A MEMBER AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHEAST CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION. HE WAS A “LIFE TIME” MEMBER OF THE SAINT SIMONS ISLAND POTARY CLUB AND FOUNDER OF THE SAINT SIMONS ROTARY FLAG PROGRAM WHICH LEAD TO THE NICKMANE “THE FLAG MAN”. HE OFTEN SAID “THIS IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH AND PEOPLE OUGHT TO SHOW THEIR LOVE OF THE COUNTRY BY DISPLAYING ITS MOST RECOGNIZED SYMBOL, THE AMERICAN FLAG. A PERSON OF STRONG SPIRITUAL FAITH, HE WAS AN ORDAINED ELDER IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND A MEMBER OF THE ST. SIMONS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. HE DID TRULY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER. HIS PATRIOTISM, LOYALTY, INTEGRITY AND FAITH HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO HIS FAMILY, AND HIS MANY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. A SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE FAMILY IS EXTENDED TO HIS LOYAL, CARING AND ATTENTIVE CARE GIVERS, SYLVIA, GLORIA, JOCELYN AND HATTIE WHO BECAME PART OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS OF HIS LIFE.

“GOD BLESS AMERICA”.