Calvin Hense was born October 27, 1933 in Kennett, Missouri to Lillie Mae (Ivy) and Fred Hense. He was the oldest of five children, 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
Fred, Lillie, Calvin, and Lelon moved to St. Louis in the early 1940s. A lot of people did not know but Calvin was a fantastic tennis player and he thought he was a basketball star. He was a lifeguard at the Jefferson Street Pool. He played monopoly and bid whist every Sunday with the family until they moved from Cote Brilliante.
Calvin attended Lincoln Elementary School, Vashon High School, and completed three years at Lincoln University in Jefferson City Missouri. After leaving school Calvin entered the U.S. Army and for a time was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas, Korea, and Ste Saint Marie, Michigan. While at Fort Riley, Kansas he met a young woman who was working and going to school in Kansas City, Missouri, Mary Jean Rodgers. Calvin and Mary Jean were married October 11, 1960 and remained married for 60 years and 5 months until his passing.
After getting out of the service Calvin worked his only job at St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. He was there until he retired in 1998. While working a SLPRC he met Antoine (Tammy) Bufford. The two of them became inseparable. They adopted each other as father and son and they spoke daily. Calvin did not have very many people he called friends. His friends became his family. Each person in Calvin’s life was special to him. Calvin's days were filled with fun activities like playing cards, playing pool and bowling with the special people in his life.
Calvin transitioned into his eternal life on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 in the comfort of his home with his wife by his side. Calvin is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Lillie Hense, and his 2 sisters Geraldine and Lelon Hense.
Calvin leaves to cherish his memory a devoted and loving wife Mary Jean Hense. his 2 brothers Donald L. and Alonzo (Rhonda) Hense and a host of nieces and nephews.
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