Calvin Goodrich Lyons, Jr. of Valrico, Florida passed away on Wednesday the 25th of October 2023 after a brief illness. He was 84 years of age.
He was preceded in death by Calvin and Leola Lyons, his parents, and his daughter, Lissa Ann Lyons Tristani. He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Sylvia Miller Lyons, his son Lloyd Calvin Lyons, his daughter-in-law, Elyse Charlotte Johnson Lyons and their two children, Carsten and Charlotte Lyons.
Calvin was born on the 4th of July 1939 in Balm, Florida. He grew up in Balm, received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from The University of Florida in 1961, and earned his PhD in Horticulture from Oregon State University in 1966.
Calvin began his career as an Extension Horticulturist at Texas A&M university in the Rio Grande Valley. There, he worked with local citrus and avocado growers to increase production and enhance profitability. He also appeared regularly on the local news to educate the community on relevant agriculture topics. After a stint as an Extension Horticulturalist at Virginia Tech, focusing on apples, Calvin returned to Texas A&M for the remainder of his career. Upon retirement in 1995, he earned the distinction of Professor Emeritus. After moving back to Florida that year, he consulted part-time as an expert witness on a number of citrus-related cases and owned and managed two orange groves in Hillsborough County. As a fifth-generation orange farmer, Calvin played an active part in the local citrus community, frequently providing guidance and advice to his colleagues.
In the local community Calvin and his wife, Sylvia, played bridge and attended New Hope Methodist Church in Brandon regularly. He was fortunate to travel widely in his retirement and particularly enjoyed recent trips to Costa Rica and Norway with his grandchildren. Each week, he shot clays with long-time friends and occasionally competed in local shooting competitions, where he consistently ranked at or near the top of the group.
A Celebration of Life Service for Calvin will be held at Southern Funeral Care on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 2 PM with family receiving friends one hour prior to services. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that recognitions be made to the charity of your choice.
Previous Events
Visitation
25
Nov
10510 Riverview Drive
Riverview, FL 33578
Celebration of Life Service
25
Nov
10510 Riverview Drive
Riverview, FL 33578
