Obituary
We are sorry
to announce the passing of our Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, Cousin
and Friend Ras Roderick (Ricky) Calhoun. Ras passed away quietly, January 24,
2024 at Grandview Hospital after a brief illness at the age of 73. Ras was
brought into this world April 18, 1950, to the late Fred D. and Dorothy L. Calhoun.
Ras grew up in Dayton, Ohio, on Germantown St., across from Estridge Grocery
Store later becoming Church’s chicken. In the early 60’s Ras was one the only
African Americans to participate in the Soap Box Derby Races down Germantown
hill and Street. An avid baseball fan at an early age, Ras participated in
little league. He also had an extensive baseball card collection dating back to
the 40’s. Ras attended and graduated Wogoman Elementary School, later attending
and graduating from Dunbar High School in 1969. Ras was one of those unique
students with a brilliant mind always on a quest for more knowledge and
answers. There was seldom a time when you could find him without a book in his
hands or in a group debating relevant issues and current events. After High
School he left Dayton Ohio, and moved to Bronx, New York and attended Fordham
University in his pursuit of black studies. You can find his name in the Who’s
who in American Universities & Colleges.
After
Fordham he returned home to Ohio, pivoting between Dayton and Yellow Springs to
attend and graduate from Central State University, where he was Vice President
of the Student Union. At Central State he was integral in bringing in
entertainment such as The Isley Brothers, Earth Wind and Fire, and Cameo to
name a few, along with President of the Student Union Richard Lasley, to raise
funds for the University. During his tenure as Vice President of the student
union, Ras and a group of students and professors left to study abroad in
Russia. Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Moscow and Budapest. They toured Europe, with
the Dean of Black Studies at Ohio University, Tom Porter and sent home many
colorful and beautiful pictures. While in Germany he visited his eldest sister
Carrie J Horne and her family, whose husband was stationed there in the army. After
Central State he worked at the Madden Hills Library where he had access to a
plethora of books, periodicals, local collections, archives, pamphlets,
posters, brochures, personal diaries, journals, artifacts, microfilm, and
information. Ras was at home there in his element. He would sometimes use the
meeting rooms there to sit in with local dignitaries and groups such as the
Dayton Black Panthers. Ras was a social and civil rights activist pioneer,
studying many cultures and languages often adapting to some of their ways of
life. Generally decked out in a dashiki and dreadlocks native to African and
Jamaican heritage, he could be seen writing poems and studying. Ras later moved
to Washington D.C. where he continued his activism in his early life where a
lot of our family resided in D.C. and Virginia, working closely with his eldest
brother and preacher Reverend Lee H. Calhoun,
and Uncle Ulysses Calhoun, President of the N.A.A.C.P., Washington D.C. Chapter.
There he met his future wife Tatenda Kanoyangwa a student at Howard University.
After D.C. Ras and his wife moved to Africa. A world traveler Ras spent a lot
of time in Jamaica with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Ras was a mentor of students
at Cornell and Miami Chapel Elementary Schools. He also worked at College Hill
Church with Pastor Robert Jones, Mr. Allen and Colonel Mitchell. Ras taught and
mentored at Sinclair Community College with Brenda Reddrick. He sat in classes
to help students with their studies, including Science, Engineering, and Mathematics,
for the Sema program with General Chui. Ras helped a lot of young people where
any day of the week someone from his past would walk up and thank him for
directing them to the right path. He helped a lot of lost causes where no one
else could reach them. Ras also worked for the Dayton Weekly News as an Editor
and distributor for Don and Donerik Black.
Ras is
survived by his wife Tatenda Calhoun, sons Dani Kanoyangwa, Jah Calhoun,
Shingai Calhoun, Zuwa Calhoun, Kudar Calhoun, daughter Esita Calhoun, and
granddaughters Carmen Calhoun, and Jaheir Calhoun, all of Dayton, Ohio,
brothers Frederick Calhoun of Dayton, Ohio, Anthony Calhoun of Las Vegas,
Nevada, Rory Calhoun of Dayton, Ohio, Terry Hancock Dayton, Ohio, sisters
Carrie J. Horne of Novato, California, and Vickie (Bruce) Harris of Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Preceded in
death by parents Fred D. and Dorothy L. Calhoun of Dayton Ohio, brothers Rev.
Lee H. (Joycelyn) Calhoun of Dallas, Texas, William E. Calhoun of Hamilton,
Ohio, and sisters Joyce Calhoun Revere of Dayton Ohio, and Lawanda Hancock of
Dayton Ohio. A service will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 11:00 am
at Zerkle Funeral Home, 11900 N. Dixie Dr., Tipp City. Islamic prayers will be
conducted at 12:00 pm. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens,
Tipp City.
A
celebration of his life will be held Friday February 23, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. at
Central State West, 840 Germantown St., Dayton, Ohio 45402.