Calvin Lee Datta

Calvin Lee Datta, (Cal) 85, went to his heavenly home to be with his Savior on Sunday, November 30 in Paducah, Kentucky.

Cal was born in Wibaux, Montana but grew up in Glendive and Helena, Montana. Calvin helped the family working the family farm, racing motorcycles and breaking horses.

In August 1958 Calvin joined the Navy and served for four years. He completed his service on the destroyer the USS Ingraham.

Cal met the love of his life Doris Saeman in August 1962. Three months later they were married on November 17, 1962.

Thanksgiving Day in 1969 around the table of the Datta home in Helena, Montana, conversation turned to the pipeline that was soon to be built in Alaska. Within three months, Calvin and his sister Audre had quit their jobs and were on the road to Fairbanks, Alaska. The promise was – just two years – and they’d come home to Montana. It was a harrowing trip with 30 below temperatures, a broken axel and very little money. Cal’s wife Doris had an equally challenging task. She stayed behind with their 2 and Audre’s 5 children to pack up 2 houses.

Upon arriving in Fairbanks, Cal found work to be scarce, so he and Audre moved to Anchorage where jobs were plentiful. Shortly after, Cal and Doris drove all 7 children up to Alaska. It was a difficult start but Calvin’s lifelong dream of living in Alaska had commenced.

In 1971, Cal moved his family of four 250 miles northeast of Anchorage to the Copper River Basin to a little town called Kenny Lake. A town back then that was not on the map. Cal and Doris bought a house on 80 acres, worked on the Alaska State pipeline project and welcomed two more children into the family. The Datta family lived there hauling water, hunting, fishing, trapping and farming.

In November 1979 Cal’s life took a dramatic change when he repented and surrendered his life to our Lord Jesus Christ. Cal and his family attended and were members of the Kenny Lake Community Church.

In May 1983, Cal started working for the State of Alaska Department of Transportation. He retired in August 2002 as the foreman of his crew.

In 2021, after 51 years in Alaska, Calvin moved to Paducah, KY where he lived with his daughter and son-in-law. He really enjoyed the wonderful warm weather and attended Rosebower Baptist Church.

Calvin impacted the lives of everyone who knew him. He was very loving, generous, creative, and wise and had a great sense of humor.

Calvin loved God and was diligent in letting others know how much his life changed when he repented and Jesus graciously forgave him. He loved to share the good word of God’s love and the gift of salvation offered through the Son Jesus Christ. Cal wanted to be sure that those around him had a relationship with Him too.

Calvin was the patriarch of this big family as loving husband, father, brother, uncle, great-uncle, nephew, cousin, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will be missed by family and friends all over this country.

Preceded in death by his wife Doris Elaine Datta, son Michael Clayton Datta, parents John and Ethel Datta, sister Audre Yonkin, brother in law Eugene Yonkin, sister Kitty Westbury and brother in law Don Westbury.

Survived by his son John Datta (Meghan) of Palmer, Alaska: daughters Jennifer Oliver (Allen) of Paducah, Kentucky: Carrie Smith (Chad) of Palmer, Alaska: sister Gail Hoehn (Bill) of Vancouver, WA. Grandchildren: Jessica and Nicole Datta of Pennsylvania: Kay, Riley and Sadie Smith of Alaska: Michelle Cabrera(Jacob) of Kentucky: Michael Oliver(Elizabeth) of Texas. Great-grandchildren: David, Ethan and Chloe of Kentucky and many nieces and nephews.

Calvin will be traveling one last time to Alaska for a celebration of life with family and friends in June 2026 in Kenny Lake, Alaska. Everyone is welcome.

Calvin’s favorite verse’s:

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 14: 6
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.hughesfuneral.com.

Hughes Funeral Home in Paducah is in charge of arrangements.