Dean L. Callender

Destined to work the asparagus fields in the frozen tundra of the north, Dean Lynn Callender was born on the 10th of May 1933, to Paul Revere and Laura Louise Callender in Ashtabula, Ohio. Growing up, he was the youngest of four brothers. While studying Chemistry at Oberlin College, he took a geology class which “changed his life.”

He used to say that being born on the shores of Lake Erie was an IQ test…If you stayed, you failed. While the lack of lake effect snow was certainly a factor, it’s more likely his first love, Marilyn Joanne Dull, figured prominently in his decision to stay in Texas. They met when Dean was working as a server at the Delta Gamma house in Austin, Texas where they fell in love.

Marilyn’s father’s insistence that she finish college before getting married prompted Dean to stay to get his Master’s in Geology from The University of Texas at Austin in 1958, after which they were married on the 7th of June 1958. He started work with Standard Oil of Texas, which later became Chevron, and the couple moved to Oklahoma City. There, Larry and Don, two of their three children were born. Subsequently, Marilyn and Dean moved to Dallas, where their daughter Sharon was born.

After ten years in the oil patch, he realized he was making more money investing what savings they had than he was making working full time as a geologist. While his fellow geologists were being transferred all over the globe, Dean and Marilyn wanted to establish roots. They moved to Houston, "the biggest small town in the world," and he switched to a career as a stockbroker, a pursuit which would keep him busy for the next fifty-one years.

Dean and Marilyn had a wonderful marriage for fifty-seven years until her passing in 2015. They traveled the world with numerous friends through the “Flying Longhorns.” Two of these friends were Tarrant and Mary Ann Fendley whom they met at St. John the Divine 55 years ago. Tarrant passed away in 2010 and Mary Ann remained close friends with Marilyn and Dean. Shortly after Marilyn’s death, Mary Ann felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to sit next to Dean when she saw him at church on his own. Their friendship blossomed into a beautiful romance and the two married in January 2016 at the young ages of 82 and 83.

It's impossible to encapsulate Dean’s “super” life. In addition to being an active member of The Church of St. John the Divine, Dean was involved with numerous other organizations. He served on the UTMB Development Board and UTMB President’s Cabinet. There, he and Marilyn founded the Dean & Marilyn Callender Library for Dynamic Longevity at the Osher Lifetime Learning Institute. What an appropriate name for a man who lived a dynamic life until the age of 92.

Dean served on the Board of Directors at Holly Hall and was a member of the AAPG, Houston Producer’s Forum, River Oaks Country Club, The Petroleum Club, Galveston Country Club, Kiwanis Club, the Mayflower Society, and a founding member of Episcopal High School in Houston. He was a member of the Momus Krewe in Galveston and the Caribe Dance Club in Houston.

Mostly, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends as no one was a stranger and everyone was invited. His impact on others was immeasurable and he served as a friend, mentor, and inspiration to countless numbers of people.

To say that Dean was an eternal optimist is an understatement. He lived his life with an “attitude of gratitude” and claimed that he was the “most blessed man in the world”. Although he broke his hip in December and was bed bound for five months as a result, Dean never lost his infectious smile and sense of humor.

Dean is survived by his loving wife of nine years, Mary Ann Fendley; his three children, Lawrence Dean Callender and his wife Allison, Donald Paul Callender, and Sharon Callender Snowden and her husband Richard, all of whom live in Houston; grandchildren, Ashley Caldwell and her husband James, Taylor Callender and his wife Beth, Amy Jones and her husband Taylor “TJ”, Andrew and Aaron Callender, and Dennis and Stewart Clutter (Sharon’s children); two great-grandchildren, Harrison and Garner Caldwell; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by two stepchildren, Terry Fendley and his wife Susan, and Cynthia Fendley Smith and her husband Ron; step-grandchildren, Brooke Conley and her husband Tim, Austin Fendley, Shane Smith and his wife Sydney, Emily Cotner and her husband Griffin; and step-great-grandchildren, Hank and Luke Conley.

He was preceded by death by his parents, Laura Louise Stewart and Paul Revere Callender; his three older brothers, West Winslow Callender, Robert Paul Callender, and Wade Lee Callender; and his late wife, Marilyn Joanne Dull.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 5th of June, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 6th of June, at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston.

Immediately following the service, guests are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent Sumners Hall.

For those unable to attend, you may join via livestream by selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the service information section. You may also wish to take a moment to share words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon below.

Prior to the service, the family will gather for a private inurnment in the St. John the Divine Garden of Resurrection.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Dean’s memory may be made to The Church of St. John the Divine by selecting the respective icon below under “Donations” or you may donate to a charity of your choice.