Benjamin (Ben) Calvin, born Aug. 24, 1918, died June 30, 2009.

Ben’s grandparents and parents came to the Washington Territory in 1878 and 1880. The Calvins came by boat from San Francisco to Monticello, now Longview. They moved to Toledo, Wash. four years later. The Nash family came by covered wagon from Kansas, also settling near Toledo.

Ben attended a one-room school in Lewis County and graduated from Chehalis High School. He became a heavy-equipment operator and went to Alaska where he helped build the naval landing strip on Kodiak Island. He served in the Army as a staff sergeant in France and Germany from 1944-1946.

After the war ended, the War Department recruited him to write a training manual for heavy-equipment operators and direct the training program.

The lure of the west called him home, where he worked building roads for Calvin Brothers Logging company. He opened a wholesale crab and seafood company in Taft, Ore.

Ben worked for Bonneville Power Administration from 1963-1983. Before he retired, Ben and Phyllis bought land on Whidbey Island, where they started a Christmas tree farm and nursery, which they operated for 25 years. Ben and his wife Phyllis were married for 52 years.

Ben is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his daughter, Lori Salo (Tim), children Maya and Ben of Olympia; his son, Larry (Carrie), children Amanda, Lyndsey and Andrew of Mill Creek; his daughter, Robyn Calvin (Chuck Canright), children Vienna and Slater of Freeland.

At his request, there will be no service.

The family would like to thank Island Home Nursing for their help in caring for Ben, and the staff at Whidbey Island Manor.

Arrangements are with the assistance of Whidbey Memorial Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., Oak Harbor.