Calvin Robert Bohannan

Calvin Robert Bohannan was born to Robert H. Bohannan and Eula L. Bohannan (both preceded him in death) on August 30, 1947 in Fort Worth, Texas. The family moved to Philadelphia, PA where Calvin entered the Philadelphia Public School System. Calvin graduated from West Philadelphia High School and shortly thereafter entered the United States Navy where he received an honorable discharge.  During his service time, Calvin was stationed in Italy where he experienced diving off cliffs into the beautiful seas surrounding Italy.

In 1969, Calvin married Barbara M. Bohannan, to this union they were blessed with two sons, Shawn M. Bohannan and Hasan J. Bohannan. Calvin was very talented and followed in the footsteps of his father and trained to become a master barber. He worked in the family barbershop for several years and for SEPTA. Later Calvin began his own business and provided many years of in-home barbering for people across the city of Philadelphia.

Calvin loved to dress and from a teenager, he would be matched from head to toe. One of his sayings was, “I like to be clean”. Later he began to wear all white on a daily basis. Calvin would bleach his clothes so that they would be as white as white could get. It was not only the clothes he loved to clean, we would wake up to the smell of bleach or pine-sol every day.

Calvin grew up with the Award-Winning Delfonics, singing their music and hanging out with them at concerts.  Calvin loved hanging out on the corners when the young men would sing doo-wop and they sounded marvelous in perfect harmony. He and Brother The late Charles “Omar” Farrell, Jr. would encourage the younger kids to practice so we could have a career in music they always had a hustle! Some of us still sing because of Calvin’s motivation. He said if we would do well with our singing, he committed to being our manager.

Calvin battled mental health issues and later had difficulty holding a job which exacerbated his illness. However, Calvin was still determined to hold onto life although difficult. During some of his toughest personal battles, he continued to hold on to his faith. He was brought up Christian yet Calvin practiced Islam for some years later renewing his Christian faith and never turning from God.

Calvin traveled across the United States hitchhiking from Philadelphia to California, he was in Florida for a while and has seen more of the United States than many.  Calvin battled Cancer, Brain Aneurism, ulcer surgeries, and severe hammertoes but Calvin still held true to this song “I Won’t Complain” and for the most part he didn’t. After taking a fall in April 2022 he was hospitalized and later placed at Ambler Extended Care and placed on hospice where he transitioned from this life on May 2, 2022.

Calvin leaves to cherish his memory two sons, Shawn & Hasan Bohannan (Barbara), Grandchildren Shawn Michelle, Latavia, Hasan, Jr., & Nasahja, great-granddaughter, Nariyae, Sister and caregiver Myra Maxwell (Husband Gary Maxwell, Sr.) Janice Marie Bohannan (preceded in death), Ticora Williams (Michael), Patricia Watkins (Rodney), Misty Henley (preceded in death). 4 Nieces- Chalynn, Christina, Jeanne & Taneha, 1 Nephew Gary, Jr., and a host of great-nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends! Spiritual Grand-daughter, Mercedes-Ambler Extended Care.

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