William "Bill" Calhoun

William “Bill” Webster Calhoun (AKA Bronco Billy), 86, of Flora, passed away on Friday, August 22, 2025. Born on November 28, 1938, he was the son of Irvin and Faye Calhoun of Flora, Indiana. Bill grew up on the family farm in Flora and graduated from Flora High School in 1957. He married Patricia (Pat Thomson) Calhoun in 1965, and this year they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

In 1959, Bill attended Purdue University to study Agriculture before returning to the family farm to pursue his lifelong ambition of becoming a farmer. His dedication to agriculture was unwavering, and he spent decades cultivating the fields and raising hogs on the family estate that he dearly loved and took great pride in. Bill was one of the first in the county to adopt “confined” hog buildings in the 70s and one of the first in the 80’s to move to Feeder to Finish operations. Over the years, he remodeled the family home, constructed numerous buildings, and invested in new equipment—all with a deep sense of purpose and pride. His dedication culminated in Calhoun Farms receiving the Hoosier Homestead Award in 2008, a recognition of more than a century of continuous family farming. For Bill, this was not just an honor but a testament to generations of hard work and perseverance.

Bill had a great fondness for cars from an early age and owned many classic cars, particularly Corvettes, over the years. He was a member of the Flora Idlers and spent hours in the shop working on his favorites. In his teens and twenties, he attended several national car shows and received numerous awards. His most notable car was a 1960 Chevy Impala that was once featured in a national Hot Rod Magazine.

Bill also had a passion for aviation. His father was one of the original members of the Flying Farmers and built what is now known as the Flora Airport. Bill held multiple airplanes on the family farm and served on the Airport Board for many years. He gave flying lessons in his 20s and purchased over 10 planes during his 60 years of flying. For Bill, surveying crops from above was not just practical, it was a joy. One of his favorite activities was taking people up for their first ride in the sky, and many in the community experienced their first plane ride with him.

Bill was known for his skill at cards, and “The Card Room” became a gathering place where friends shared countless games and made lasting memories. Later in life was often seen playing cards at Americus for hours, even in his later years.

Bill was an early adopter of satellite television in the early 80s and was one of the first in Carroll County to purchase a full-size personal satellite dish. When the Indy 500 was blacked out locally, people from the community would come to the Calhoun homestead to watch the race on a Japanese channel, only available only on the satellite dish.

Bill enjoyed tinkering in his garage and took great satisfaction in having buildings to store all his tools and treasures. One of his more humorous quirks was his well-known dislike for both trees and birds; wherever he lived, he made it a point to cut down as many trees as possible. Later in life, he had an African Grey Parrot, the only bird he ever enjoyed. Bill's favorite pets were his St. Bernards, and there was a St. Bernard roaming the family farm for over 30 years.

Bill enjoyed simple pleasures: country and gospel music, along with the sounds of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and ABBA. He had a particular weakness for fudge, a treat he never turned down. In his younger years, Bill was an avid water skier. Bill and Pat traveled to 52 states in their 60 years together, mostly on motorcycles.

He loved his Harley Davidson motorcycles and attended Sturgis numerous times. Faith played an important role in Bill’s life. He was a longtime member of the First Brethren Church in Flora and later attended Monticello Christian Church. His faith helped him through several traumatic events, including severe migraines, a fall from the second story of a barn resulting in the loss of an eye, severe burns, cancer, and a triple bypass surgery.

It is often said that farmers never really retire; they just slow down. Even as he stepped back from daily operations, Bill remained ever watchful. Known for “keeping an eye on things,” he had a habit of inspecting and checking everything out—nothing escaped his notice. He believed in doing things right and wasn’t shy about letting someone know if they didn’t meet his standards. Though he could be stern and quick-tempered at times, those who knew him also saw his softer side.

Bill survives by his beloved wife Patricia Calhoun; sons Mark Calhoun (Sara) of Algonquin, Illinois, and Jason Calhoun (Lindsay) of Flora; loving sister JoCena Budd of Fort Wayne; and grandchildren Aspen Calhoun and William & Veronica Calhoun. He was preceded in death by his parents Irvin and Faye Calhoun and infant children Kirk Lee & Yvette Renae Calhoun.

A man who left a lasting impression—whether through a firm word or a sweet smile—Bill’s legacy lives on through the land he nurtured and the family who carries forward his values.

Visitation for Bill will be held Friday, August 29, 2025, from 11am until the time of the service at 1pm at Victory in Christ Fellowship in Flora. Burial will follow at Maple Lawn Cemetery. Day & Genda Funeral Home ~ Reinke Chapel is assisting with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s honor to the American Diabetes Association and Riley Children’s Hospital. Messages of condolence may be left at www.dayandgenda.com.

A special thank you to the exceptional staff at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Delphi.  We are forever grateful for the amazing care he received from so many people.