CHAPIN – Calvin Leroy Coy, husband of the late Marilyn Sue Coy, left this earth for Heaven on Thursday, September 14, 2023. He was 94. Family and friend's visitation will be on Monday, September 25, 2023, from 10 to 11 am at Chapin Christian Community Church, 415 Lexington Ave, Chapin, SC 29036. Services will follow at the church from approximately 11 am to 12 noon. Interment to follow the Service at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Rd, Columbia, SC 29229. American Legion Riders will lead a motorcade procession to the National Cemetery, where military honors will be performed.

Born in Defiance County, Ohio, on May 29, 1929 to the late Simon and Laura Coy, Calvin Coy was preceded by his wife of 63 years, Marilyn, his son Mark, brothers Don and Dwight Coy, and grandson Gabriel Coy. Calvin leaves behind his daughter Laura Coy Smith, (Charlie) of Chapin, SC, and his son Bruce Coy, (Pam) of Summerville, SC. He also leaves behind five grandchildren – Jamie Pike, Alexia Pike, (Fabien Scrivo) and Caroline Pike-Torres, (Geoffrey) of Montauroux, France, and Julian Coy, (Kristen) of Beaufort, SC, Carra Coy Beam, (Jesse) of Seoul, South Korea, and two great-grandsons, Jack, son of Alexia Pike and Fabien Scrivo of Draguignan, France, and Jackson, son of Julian and Kristen Coy of Beaufort, SC.

Cal was raised on farms in Defiance County and Pioneer Ohio. His first job was working on the Wabash railroad driving spikes and later as a RR bridge carpenter. He later became a demolition crane operator for the railroad. He joined the Army during the Korean Conflict. He became a commissioned officer, 1st Lieutenant, and was a light and heavy weapons instructor in Germany, where he earned sharp-shooter status. When Cal was honorably discharged, he immediately joined the Army Reserve, where his total service record spanned over 10 years.

Cal married Marilyn Sue Julian on November 28, 1953 in Lake Cicott, Indiana. After working for the railroad again, he joined several railroad equipment manufacturing companies, and began travelling nationally and globally. While working, he attended engineering classes at the University of Maryland, and later developed several railroad equipment patents, for technology still in use today. In 1969, a division of his company was purchased, and he was transferred to Columbia SC, where he settled in Irmo with his young family. In 1972 he and Marilyn built a home on Lake Murray, in Chapin, SC, where Cal lived the last 52 years of his life. He spent the rest of his career working for Tamper (due to mergers, later called Fairmont-Tamper, Canron Rail Group, then Harsco Track Technologies.) He rose to be a leader in the industry as a senior executive, being named president of the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, (REMSA.) He travelled world-wide, including most of Central and South America, North America, Africa, Australia, Europe, Russia, China, and much of the Far East. As a result of his travels, he made life-long friends from around the world.

One of Cal's accomplishments, that he rarely spoke of, was in the mid 70's, when he was chosen to represent the Railroad Industry for a U.S. presidential appointed trade envoy to China, to further establish trade relations. In later years, Cal wasn't so sure of the final outcome of that envoy! As they skirted across China by rail to the most remote parts of the country, Cal's travel partner and bunk-mate was astronaut, James McDivitt, commander of the Gemini IV and Apollo 9 missions. Decades later, Cal returned to China several times, and the progress he witnessed was incredible.

The things Cal loved the most in his later years were his family, his dogs, and watching sunsets from his home on Lake Murray. He even travelled overseas as often as he could, until he could no longer manage. His activities that he loved were his service to American Legion Post 193, where he served as Vice-commander, and later as Commander of the post. He took great pleasure in making sure the service mission of the American Legion was a priority, including support for Boys and Girls State Leadership camps. He enjoyed attending Chapin United Methodist Church, (now Chapin Christian Community Church,) breakfasts at the post, lunches with his post buddies, and brunch with family and friends at Mid-Carolina Country Club.

One of the most significant traits that Calvin exhibited was kindness. He was no push-over, but he truly extended respect and courtesy to all he encountered, earning him the moniker of the "nicest, kindest man they had ever met." His most significant traits were his humility and his sense of duty to God, country, family and friends. He selflessly sacrificed both time and treasure to help those in need, making him more Christ-like than he even knew. It was just the "right thing to do," according to Cal. His love for and faith in Jesus Christ has established his place in Heaven, where we know there was a glorious reception for a life well-lived. Some of his last words were, "I've had a good run. A great life. It's time for me to move on." He will be loved and missed by family and all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests for donations to made in his honor to Chapin Christian Community Church, the Make a Wish Foundation, Wounded Warriors, the American Legion post 193 building fund, Newberry County Animal Shelter, or the charity of their choice.