Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

March 19, 2018

CHARLOTTE - Patrick Noble Calhoun, Jr, age 63, died March 19, 2018 in Wilson, NC at Long Leaf Neuro-Medical Center, having battled mental illness and brain trauma for much of his adult life.  Pat was born in Morristown, NJ, third child of six and oldest son of Mary Gertrude Pitts and Patrick Noble Calhoun.  He is survived by his son John Alexander Calhoun, and siblings, Constance Calhoun of Cornelius, NC, Margaret Hemenway (David) of Mount Holly, VA, and Emily Hensley (Steve) of Waxhaw, NC, along with numerous nieces and nephews. 

Pat is pre-deceased by his parents and two siblings:  Mary Carbaugh of Oakton, VA and Alexander Miller Calhoun of Winter Haven, FL.

Pat graduated from Woodberry Forest High School in Orange, Virginia in 1973, winning the Archer Christian Memorial award for superior athletics and scholarship. He was a stand-out three sport athlete and excellent student, and he also won the Senior Prefect award at graduation for most outstanding senior. He entered UNC-Chapel Hill in 1973 where he joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity, which gave him not only four years of fun, frolic, and brotherhood, but a lifetime of deep and enduring friendships. He finished his college career at UNC-Charlotte.  

Pat relished his college years, maintaining a lasting love of sports (cheering for the Tarheels but also for his father's beloved alma mater, Clemson). During a college summer break, he volunteered for a Congressional race in Texas, and built on that experience to join the campaign of Congressman Symms in Idaho, who won a Senate seat in 1980.  Pat immersed himself in politics, joining campaigns of other North Carolinians, Senator Helms, and former Rep. Cobey.  He suffered psychosis while in campaign school in Washington, D.C. and years later, a tragic accident that resulted in traumatic brain injury.  Pat recovered slowly and partially, yet remarkably, from that near-death experience.  His mother, who was at his side during the worst of his ordeal, was his constant caregiver. At the end of Pat’s life, he was thrilled to enjoy the company of his son John, to meet John's fiancée, Megan Imhoff, and to know they all shared a common passion for faith, family, and sports.  

Pat was recently honored by Woodberry classmates for his ClemsonTiger spirit, by their setting up a GoFundMe account to share memories and support Pat.  Members of classes from '72-'75 (140 participants) raised over $6,000.  Pat's great sense of humor was well recognized, with a penchant for bestowing playful nicknames, but he was also known for a wide circle of friends and a genuine knack of making everyone who knew him feel like a best friend.  The Calhoun family is deeply touched by so many who said they regarded Pat as a brother.  They are forever indebted to Pat’s guardian, William Grimes (Bo) Thomas, who provided sacrificial care and love for Pat for almost 30 years after our mother passed. The compassion and time Bo gave Pat as his guardian and friend are a testament of enduring love and kindness of a lifelong friend to a friend in need.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, where Pat Calhoun Sr. once served as an elder and deacon, at 2501 Oxford Place in Charlotte. A reception will follow the memorial service.

Memorial contributions in Pat’s honor may be made to Memory Center Charlotte, 300 Billingsley Road, Suite 108, Charlotte, NC 28211; http://www.memorycentercharlotte.org/. 

 Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.