William "Bill" Gordon Calvert, Jr.

William "Bill" Calvert, Jr. of Gulfport, MS, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at the age of 90. He was born on April 27, 1936, to William and Rose Calvert in Baltimore, Maryland.

As a child, Bill grew up in Europe. He followed the example of his stepfather, Skip, and joined the Air Force at the age of 17. Bill’s work ethic was unmatched. He retired from the Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1975 after more than 20 years of service, including two years in the Vietnam War. He was an expert marksman and won awards for his sharpshooting. Bill spent many years at Stennis working on the space shuttle program. He served as a law enforcement officer in multiple police departments across the coast for many years, including teaching as a Firearms Instructor at the Training Academy for many years. Bill ended his law enforcement career with the Federal Marshalls and worked until 2024, at the age of 88. He was the recipient of many awards, including the Larkin A. Smith Memorial award.

Bill’s hobbies included drag racing, diving, kayaking, triathlons, biking, and meticulously taking care of his yard. In 2002, Bill was selected as the Mississippi Male Athlete of the Year at the State Games, BellSouth Sportsman of the Year and was a medal recipient in his category in 2001, 2002, and 2006, winning innumerable medals and awards.

Bill is preceded in death by his son, John Calvert; and his parents, William Calvert, and Elwood (Skip) and Rose Lambert.

Bill is survived by his children, Carol (Bob) Worrell, William (Tabbetha) Calvert, and Jane Calvert; his grandchildren, Richard Furtak, Brian Furtak, Daniel (Everly) Furtak, Matthew (Nicole) Furtak, Jesse (Jessica) Calvert, Angela (Vince) Husley, their mother, Lynita (Steve) Wagnon, Kenneth (Michelle) Mills, Jonathan (Kristin) Mills, Tamara Mayo, Nicholas (Tiffany) Mayo, Scott Mayo, and Connor Mayo; two sisters, Mary Lambert and Penny (Steve) Collins; sixteen great-grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends, including his best friends, Mike Blackwell and Joe Holley; his wife of eleven years, Patricia Calvert, and her children, Kerri (Ron) Norra, Claude W. Lowe, Jr., and Timothy (Christy) Lowe; her grandchildren, Matthew Norra, Emily Norra, Joshua Norra, Rene Lowe, Ryan Lowe, and her two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Monday, May 18, 2026, at 11 AM, at Pentecostals of the Gulf Coast. Interment with military honors will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Pentecostals of the Gulf Coast. 

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of William Gordon Calvert, Jr.