Calvin Lee Hudsonpillar's Obituary
Calvin Lee Hudsonpillar peacefully passed away on August 9, 2025, at the age of 72 with his loving wife of 53 years by his side.
Calvin was born on February 26, 1953, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. He lived in various towns in Oklahoma until third grade. His family briefly lived in Washington State before moving to Soda Springs, Idaho, where Calvin graduated from Soda Springs High School in 1971. A year after graduation, he married his high school sweetheart on March 22, 1972.
Calvin and his bride, Diana Lynn Hudsonpillar, moved to Lake Villa, Illinois, so he could work on his Uncle Duke’s and Aunt Rene’s duck farm while Diana took care of the homefront and birthed their first son, Brandon Wayne Hudsonpillar, in November 1972. Brandon was born with medical difficulties, and they spent many years taking him to and from the hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. In between those visits, they gave birth to their daughter, Terra Dawn Hudsonpillar (Collins), in December 1974, and their second son, Travis Clay Hudsonpillar, in December 1976. To help care for his growing family, Calvin left the Duck farm and began working for International Harvester as a tractor inspector. After many years of forced strikes and unstable working conditions, Calvin applied to work with the Federal Government. After a year of waiting, he accepted a position as an Army Civilian with the Federal Government and took a vow to serve his country in October 1982.
Soon after joining the Federal Government to write Technical Orders for Abrams tanks, the government moved Calvin and his family to Virginia. In Virginia, Calvin’s career took a turn towards project and program management. He excelled in this new career path. Calvin served the United States of America during the Cold War, Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Program Manager for mission-critical programs that provided US soldiers with the intelligence and supplies they needed in hard-to-access locations in theater. While serving, Calvin earned a BA in Management and Business and an MS in Managerial Leadership. In 2004, Calvin graduated from the Army War College, where he had the opportunity to learn critical methodologies and skills alongside other senior Army military officers and civilian leaders. After 28 years of service, Calvin retired from the Federal Government in September 2010. During his retirement, he was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Award by the Department of the Army for the exceptional service he provided to the US Army Intelligence and Security Command. Calvin was very honored to receive this award and was humbled by the recognition of his years of dedicated service.
Calvin was as dedicated to his family as he was to his career. Calvin loved his wife and appreciated her companionship and unwavering dedication to the vows they made in March 1972. As for his children, he spent many hours by his oldest son’s bed for the eight years he was in and out of the hospital. After Brandon was healed, Calvin saw an opportunity to help his boys (and others) grow into honorable young men by serving as a scout master. His boys were proud of the time they participated in scouting activities with their father, and Calvin felt blessed to have the opportunity to serve his community while spending quality time with his sons. One of Calvin’s greatest surprises in life was the day his daughter came home and informed him she had joined the US Air Force. After the shock wore off, Calvin became her biggest advocate as she navigated many hills and valleys while serving her country as a soldier and as a civilian. He was proud of all the things his children and grandchildren accomplished, including rooting for his granddaughter as she received a BS in Criminal Justice and Criminology in 2023, then went on to marry in 2024, and have his first great-grandson, Austin Clay Hurst, in July 2025.
Calvin is survived by his wife, Diana Lynn Hudsonpillar, his daughter, Terra Collins & Kevin Doyle of Fredericksburg, Va; his granddaughter Savannah & Zachary Hurst, and their son Austin Clay of Camp Lejeune, NC; his granddaughter Juliet Collins, and her daughter Emma Alleyne of Port Republic Maryland; his granddaughter Donna Trimm of Tampa, Florida; and two nieces, Jeannie & Ulysses Woodrow and their family from Centralia, Washington; and Jill Malone & Anthony Medina and family of Marysville, Washington. Calvin was preceded in death by his sons, Brandon Wayne Hudsonpillar (d.1996) and Travis Clay Hudsonpillar (d.2018); his parents, Alvia Lee (2012) & Lowella Jean Hudsonpillar (1984); his parents-in-law, Arthur Alden (1975) & Ardella Gertrude Rosen (d.1990); and his brother, Robin Lynn Hudsonpillar (d.1995).
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 13, 2025 at Riverside First Church of God, 3461 Fall Hill Ave, Fredericksburg, VA.
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