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.