Calvin Barnard Fife

Calvin Barnard Fife (age 93) passed away December 3, 2017 in Chandler Arizona surrounded by his family. He was born on August 22, 1924 to Randolph Wilson Fife (1892-1943) and Mabel Victoria Erickson Fife (1897-1992) in Garden Grove, Orange County, California. Calvin worked hard all his life. As a young man he delivered papers for the Gridley Daily Globe. His father was a plasterer and he learned this skill plus other building skills from him. Due to his father's bad heart, Calvin worked alongside his father as he worked. After graduating from Gridley High School, he worked at Camp Beale. He took a class in aircraft construction at the junior College in Marysville and then worked as a shipwright in Oakland. Calvin was drafted into World War II on April 1, 1943. After completing basic training in the Army Air Corps, he was sent to an aircraft engine school in Los Angeles and overseas training in North Carolina. Just as he was about to go overseas, his father passed away. After a quick trip home, he traveled to England where he served at the Burtonwood Air Depot. He repaired airplane engines. After doing that for 7 months, he had the opportunity to serve as the orderly for General Berman. He was discharged from the army March 21, 1946. After leaving the army, Calvin worked as a plasterer until he was called to serve in the Western Canadian Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October of 1946. He served in the cities of Moose Jaw, St. Brieux, and North Battleford in Saskatchewan and at Peace River in Alberta. He had many opportunities to give service and planted the seeds of the love of Christ in many hearts. He was released on October 25th, 1948. While serving his mission he started writing to Valeta McCaslin. Through their letters their love grew. After being released from his mission, Calvin decided to visit Valeta. They decided to get married. They found that if they got married before the end of the year, she could come into the United States as a war bride. She canceled her teaching contract at Christmas time and they were married on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1948, in her parents John and Lucile McCaslin's home. Calvin and his mother drove to Canada from California through bad snow storms and blizzards for the wedding. Then the three of them (Calvin, Valeta, and his mother Mabel) returned to California afterwards again facing bad roads and snowy conditions. They stopped in Idaho Falls, Idaho where their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple on December 29, 1948. Calvin and Valeta lived in Gridley, California where he worked construction. Four of their children were born there. (Ruth, twins Richard and Roger, and Calvin) After a short move to Canada, the family moved to Arizona. Calvin worked on building houses with his brother. His second set of twins, daughters Marjorie and Beverly, were born while they lived in Tucson. Calvin started building swimming pools. He moved to Phoenix and started Patio Pools and Wall Company. It was in Phoenix, where his youngest son Jerry was born. Calvin applied for a job with the City of Phoenix, and became a building inspector. Later he became the Chief Building Inspector for the City of Phoenix. He was able to put a lot of knowledge to work for him. He worked there for 26 years before retiring. Calvin was a friend to all, always helping and serving those around him. He loved sharing the gospel with others. He assisted many people in building projects. The leaders at church asked him to build a house for Ida Redbird on the reservation, which he did. He helped each of his sons with their houses. He built furniture and other things. After his retirement he made hundreds of toy cars and reindeer that he gave to friends and relatives. Calvin was preceded in death by his father and mother, his sisters Gwendolyn Bushman and Mabel McDowell, and his brother Randolph Fife, his daughter Marjorie Horan, a grandson Richard Fife and a granddaughter Becky Fife. He is survived by his wife Valeta, his sisters Helen Josephine Stoddard and Florence Draper, his brother James Fife (Irene), his daughters Ruth Whitmer (Evan Whitmer) and Beverly Hellewell (Kevin Hellewell) and his sons Richard Fife (Lark), Roger Fife, Calvin Fife (Betty) and Jerry Fife and son-in-law Don Horan. He had 28 grandchildren and 64 great grandchildren. Calvin was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix on December 7, 2017 with military rites. Bishop Doug Galbraith conducted the service. The opening prayer was given by daughter Ruth Whitmer and thoughts about their dad were shared by sons Calvin M. Fife and Roger Fife. The dedicatory prayer was offered by his son Richard Fife. The pall bearers were Richard Fife (son), Calvin M. Fife (son), Jerry D. Fife (son), Evan Whitmer (son-in-law), and grandsons Scott Hellewell and Calvin T. Fife. A memorial service for Calvin will be held on December 30, 2017 at the Campobello ward building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 15018 North 39th Avenue in Phoenix. There will be an opportunity to visit with the family an hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30 am. The Memorial Service will begin at 10:30 am. Cemetery Details National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd. Phoenix, AZ Loading map Previous Events Memorial Service DEC 30. 10:30 AM (MT) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Campobello Ward 15018 N. 39th Ave. Phoenix, AZ Loading map