SALISBURY - Calvin Rex Willing died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, at Coastal Hospice At The Lake. Born in Salisbury, he was the son of the late Calvin O. and Evelyn E. Willing.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served from Jul. 1941 to Oct. 1945. During this wartime he served on the USS Wisconsin in Okinawa, as well as the China and Japan Seas.
He was an accomplished trumpet player, playing with the U.S. Navy Band and later with several local bands. He was a longtime member of the American Federation of Musicians and a lifetime member of the BPO Elks. He was also a charter member of the Society for the Preservation of Barbershop Singing in America.
He spent many years in the wholesale electrical and wholesale plumbing supplies businesses and was the general manager of the E.D. Supply Co. of Salisbury. In time, he established the Maryland Plumbing Supply Co. of Salisbury. He retired after his successful company was purchased by the Noland Plumbing Co.
He is survived by a daughter, Jackie R. Collins; a son, Rex C. Willing; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth M. Willing who died on Jun. 28, 2017; and a son, Dennis Edward Willing, who died in 2012.
A celebration of his life was held Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, at Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury. Entombment was in Wicomico Memorial Park.