Calvin Wooten

Mr. Wooten was born September 29, 1924 in DeKalb County, Alabama. He was the son of the late Joseph Wallace Wooten and Alma Potter Wooten.

He married Winell Pearson on November 27, 1958 and they celebrated 51 years of marriage until her death on December 30, 2009. He was also preceded in death by a son, Joseph Thomas Wooten in 1995.

He attended Alabama School for the Blind in Talladega, Alabama and graduated in the Class of 1944. He then moved to Anniston where he started Wooten Piano Company, an Anniston business that he owned and operated for 50 years. He also founded Wooten Enterprises, a real estate investment company. He was a member of the Harvest Church of God in Anniston and served on the Church Board for many years.

Mr. Wooten was the first alumni to be elected as Chairman of the Board for the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and served in this capacity from 1989-1994. He also received the Ambassador Award and the AFB Migel Medal, a National award given as the highest honor in the blindness field to honor professionals and volunteers whose dedication and achievements have improved the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired. In addition Mr. Wooten served on the Board of Directors for the American Foundation for the Blind in New York City for several years.

He was a member of the Anniston Rotary Club where he had perfect attendance for over 20 years and was also a Paul Harris Fellow. He was active in Gideon’s International, Vision Foundation and many other worthwhile and service- centered organizations.

Mr. Wooten was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved his family, his country and his God and lived his life striving to make a difference in the lives of everyone he knew.

He is survived by three daughters, Angela Wooten Strange and husband Jim of Temple, GA, Lynn Wooten Sansom and husband Tom of Acworth, GA, and Lisa Wooten Duke and husband Scotty of Anniston, seven grandchildren, Lauren, Lindsey, Caleb, Mary Catherine, Joseph, William, and Margaret, one sister, Nell Wooten of Mexico Beach, FL, and one nephew, Lane Fair of Marietta, GA.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at Gray Brown Funeral Home from 1:00-3:00. A chapel service will follow at 3:00. Interment will be at Edgemont Cemetery in Anniston immediately following the chapel service.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Foundation in honor of Calvin Wooten, at the attention if Lynn E. Hanner – P.O. Box 698, Talladega, AL 35161.