Robert Callender

Robert A. Bob Callender of Ruidoso passed away on 27 March 2009 at Lincoln County Medical Center after a courageous battle with heart disease and cancer. He was born on 7 July 1935 in Wichita, KS. He served in the US Navy from 1952-1956 and Inactive Reserves 1956-60 after which he attended North Texas University. From 1957-77, he worked for the trucking equipment industry. In 1977 he started an insurance agency with Farmers Insurance Group in El Paso, TX. During this time, he resided in Horizon City where he served as a Fire Department volunteer firefighter to Chief, Horizon City Alderman, El Paso County Water Authority Commissioner, and Chair-person and Board member of the El Paso Central Appraisal District. He also was a Little League Coach and Scout Master. In 1997, he semi-retired and moved to Ruidoso, NM, in 2000.

Bob married the Love of his Life, Kitty Jelsovsky, on 18 October 2003 during the Oktoberfest in Ruidoso. He is survived by his wife, Kitty, and sons: Lance Callender, wife, Paula of El Paso, TX; Eric Callender, his wife, Mary, of Oklahoma City, OK; and E.J. Thor, his fiance, Michelle Melo, of New Hampshire; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Bob joined Lions in November 1972 in Lancaster, TX. In 1974, he transferred to the Ysleta Lions in El Paso and then a year later to the Horizon City Lions. In 1994, he led the effort to charter a new Club, the Pride of El Paso County Lions Club where he was a member until 2000. In 2000, he joined the Ruidoso Noon Lions Club. During his 37 years as a Lion, Bob was Club President 6 terms, District Tail Twister 8 terms, Zone Chairman 4 terms, Region Chair 2 terms, and Extension Chair 3 terms. He was District 40S Governor 2004-05 and Multiple District 40 Chair 2007-08. In 2005, he and his wife, Kitty, led the effort to charter a new Club, the Capitan Smokey Bear Lions Club. Lion Bob had a sincere and exceptional passion for Lionism and its goal to try and make this world a better place for everyone. The extraordinary inspiration he was able to convey resulted in several new clubs being formed and many new Lions joining the ranks of the greatest service organization in the world.

A Celebration of Bobs Life will occur 4 April 2009 at 1PM at the Ruidoso Convention Center, Ruidoso, NM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Bobs memory to the Lions Clubs International Foundation LCIF, 300 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842 or NM Lions Operation KidSightNMLEF 311 E. Redwood Ruidoso, NM 88345. Interment at Ft. Bliss Cemetery will occur at a later time.

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