Obituary for Calvin LeRoy McMillan
It is with great sadness that the family of Calvin LeRoy McMillan of Wichita, KS announces his
passing. After living a full life of 92 years, he passed on April 6, 2023. Calvin was born on
February 2, 1931 in Wichita to Alonzo W. and Louise McMillan. He graduated from El Dorado
High school in 1949 and went on to attend Butler Community College. He then put himself
through Washburn Law School working as an insurance adjuster and door-to-door salesman
selling pots and pans. After five years of diligent pursuit, on August 14, 1954, Calvin married
Polly Anne Peckham of Wichita. Calvin served two-years in the U.S. Army during which he spent
ten months in Japan “because he could type...really fast.” Upon leaving the Army, the couple
settled in Wichita where Calvin and Robert Kaplan formed a law partnership, which lasted 50
years. In 1958, after welcoming their first child Scott, Calvin and Polly purchased their first home
on Edgemont because it had “mature trees” and lots of growing space. There the “Lazy Sawdust
Shop” was established in the garage. It soon became a center meeting place for all of the
neighborhood men to join together and collaborate on various projects. In 1962, the couple
welcomed a new daughter Carrie and completed their family in 1965 with another daughter
Sally. In 1967, Calvin and his law partner purchased the farm, which quickly became his happiest
place, where weekends were full of hunting, fishing, exploring and endless working. Every
Christmas, his kids would get something special from Santa, such as a hand-crafted doll bed,
kitchen, and Barbie camper, because the plastic ones “were cheap.” In 1974, Calvin and Polly
moved to Spring Acres where the Lazy Sawdust was re-established and the garden was tilled
and planted. Calvin was a member of the West Side Optimist Club and helped establish the
Unsung Hero program. He was a long-standing member of the Kansas Bar Association and was a
Federal and State court mediator. He also served as the director and president of Pre-Paid Legal
Services. Calvin and Polly are time-honored members of First United Methodist Church, where
they were prominent members of the Double-Ring Class and for decades he served as the
church’s lawyer. In 2011, at the age of 80, Calvin retired and pursued many more visits to the
farm, endless hours in his upstairs office watching birds, projects in the shop and working in the
garden. Calvin passed along his love for animals, especially dogs, his passion of golf, music,
skiing, and the outdoors, to his kids and grandchildren. Calvin is survived by his wife Polly, his
son Scott, daughter Carrie, daughter Sally (Michael) Smith, grand-children Rachel (Austin Gold)
and Gavin Smith, his sister Phyllis Strand, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. The
Memorial service will be held Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 11:00 at First United Methodist Church
in Wichita, KS. Memorial donations can be made to the Optimist Unsung Hero Fund.
passing. After living a full life of 92 years, he passed on April 6, 2023. Calvin was born on
February 2, 1931 in Wichita to Alonzo W. and Louise McMillan. He graduated from El Dorado
High school in 1949 and went on to attend Butler Community College. He then put himself
through Washburn Law School working as an insurance adjuster and door-to-door salesman
selling pots and pans. After five years of diligent pursuit, on August 14, 1954, Calvin married
Polly Anne Peckham of Wichita. Calvin served two-years in the U.S. Army during which he spent
ten months in Japan “because he could type...really fast.” Upon leaving the Army, the couple
settled in Wichita where Calvin and Robert Kaplan formed a law partnership, which lasted 50
years. In 1958, after welcoming their first child Scott, Calvin and Polly purchased their first home
on Edgemont because it had “mature trees” and lots of growing space. There the “Lazy Sawdust
Shop” was established in the garage. It soon became a center meeting place for all of the
neighborhood men to join together and collaborate on various projects. In 1962, the couple
welcomed a new daughter Carrie and completed their family in 1965 with another daughter
Sally. In 1967, Calvin and his law partner purchased the farm, which quickly became his happiest
place, where weekends were full of hunting, fishing, exploring and endless working. Every
Christmas, his kids would get something special from Santa, such as a hand-crafted doll bed,
kitchen, and Barbie camper, because the plastic ones “were cheap.” In 1974, Calvin and Polly
moved to Spring Acres where the Lazy Sawdust was re-established and the garden was tilled
and planted. Calvin was a member of the West Side Optimist Club and helped establish the
Unsung Hero program. He was a long-standing member of the Kansas Bar Association and was a
Federal and State court mediator. He also served as the director and president of Pre-Paid Legal
Services. Calvin and Polly are time-honored members of First United Methodist Church, where
they were prominent members of the Double-Ring Class and for decades he served as the
church’s lawyer. In 2011, at the age of 80, Calvin retired and pursued many more visits to the
farm, endless hours in his upstairs office watching birds, projects in the shop and working in the
garden. Calvin passed along his love for animals, especially dogs, his passion of golf, music,
skiing, and the outdoors, to his kids and grandchildren. Calvin is survived by his wife Polly, his
son Scott, daughter Carrie, daughter Sally (Michael) Smith, grand-children Rachel (Austin Gold)
and Gavin Smith, his sister Phyllis Strand, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. The
Memorial service will be held Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 11:00 at First United Methodist Church
in Wichita, KS. Memorial donations can be made to the Optimist Unsung Hero Fund.