William H. Calhoun died peacefully on January 10, 2011. Born in Chatham on Jan. 23, 1925, the only son of George Calhoun and the former Mildred Birge. Graduated from Chatham High School and served in the Navy in 1943-1946 in WWII. Predeceased in 2007 by his wife of nearly 60 years, Betty (Van Tassel). Put his amazing mechanical engineering skills to work for 37 years at General Electric in Schenectady and internationally, working on jet engine aircraft and helicopter development, missile guidance systems and service installation of gas turbines and co-generation systems. He loved to play cards, especially Texas Hold'em. The Birge side of his family settled and began subsistence farming in 1782 on land now marked by Birge Hill Road. His great-great-grandfather settled the land after fighting in the Revolutionary War. A lifelong resident of Chatham, Bill was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the Mountain 10 Ski Club and the Chatham Columbia Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his sister Margaret Teresi, sons Van (wife Sue) and Birge (wife Margaret) and grandchildren Owen, Kate Melei, Mackenzie, Zach, Will, Hannah, and Quinn. No service is planned as Bill directed.