Alvin Melford Kalka

Alvin Melford Kalka, 81, of White Deer, passed away Friday, December 13, 2019, at BSA Hospital in Amarillo.

Rosary will be 6:00 PM, Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa.

Funeral Mass will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, December 19, 2019 at Sacred Heart Church in White Deer, with Father Hrudaya Raju Kondamudi, pastor officiating.  Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Alvin was born April 26, 1938 at the Kalka homestead in White Deer where he became a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of White Deer High School class of 1956. He married the love of his life, Linda Perryman Kalka, on September 5, 1959 in Borger. She preceded him in death in 2002. He was a farmer and rancher and took pride in his work on the family farm and enjoyed helping and living next to his parents. Alvin also worked as a paint contractor and was known for his famous ceiling swirls. During the holidays, he had a side business and would flock and deliver Christmas trees in the evenings.

In his younger years, he loved fishing, pheasant hunting trips, and traveling to Las Vegas with a group of friends and his wife of more than 40 years. In his latter years, he enjoyed taking his cousin, Charlie Warminski, on adventures.  He never met a stranger and found good in everyone. He loved photographs, telling jokes, and was the life of the party.

After retiring from farming, you could catch Alvin delivering fresh produce straight from the backyard garden along with his famous pickled okra to people around town. After his wife’s death, he began cooking and baking pies, chocolate fudge and cookies. This became one of his favorite pastimes before his health began to fail. He enjoyed his family, especially spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren at monthly gatherings.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Sacred Heart Catholic Church and served on the cemetery committee. He was a pioneer of the annual Sausage Supper. He was a former member of the White Deer Jaycees.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward (Eddie) Kalka and Rose Kotara Kalka; his sisters, Evelyn King and Patricia (Pat) Cummings; and his brother, Edward (Sonny) Kalka and wife Linda Kalka.

He is survived by two children, David Kalka and Rosalea McAnally and husband Cairl, all of White Deer; by his sister, Mary Ann Labus of Panhandle; his twin brother, Melvin Kalka and wife Bernadette of Hereford, and brother Robert (Bobby) Kalka and wife Janet of Magee, MS; six grandchildren, Melissa Whitaker and husband Jake, Justin Kalka, Valisa Kalka, Cameron McAnally and wife Lynsey, Casey McAnally and wife Lexi and Cuyler McAnally and fiancé Jordan Pohnert; seven great grandchildren, Jace Kalka, Kylie Kalka, Madison Baggett, Brooklyn Warren, Kenzie Whitaker, Kyson McAnally, Carson Whitaker and one on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Those who so desire can make memorial donations in memory of Alvin to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in White Deer.