Furthering God’s Will

“My son, you’re going to go home.” These are the unforgettable words Calvin De Golyer heard on March 31, 1945, as Marines went ashore at Okinawa. On that fateful day, the realities of life and death surrounded him. Calvin, who served as a WWII amphibious U.S. Navy veteran deployed in the Pacific Theater, vividly recalls that when he turned around to see who was speaking, no one was there. Calvin realized he had heard God’s voice. Sixty-six years later he continues to listen for God’s will in his life.

Calvin talks openly and lovingly about his Christian faith, including prior to WWII; yet something deeper began to form on that March day in 1945. Calvin began to faithfully read his Bible, and by 1949 his faith and understanding of God came to a culmination. He realized the Bible’s divinity.

This February, Calvin and his wife Edith (known by friends as Bunny) will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. They agree that these are the happiest days of their lives. Together, Calvin and Bunny have traveled all 50 states and taken cruises throughout much of the world, including the Mediterranean, Orient, and parts of Europe; Calvin boldly states, “The best trip we ever took was to the Holy Land, Israel, in 1974.”

Their life together also includes a calling to give back—and they do so in part to Houghton University. Calvin lived most of his life in Castile, New York, just down the road from Houghton, but he had no direct connection to the college. When asked why he decided to form a large living trust agreement with Houghton, his response was simple: “Houghton is a conservative Christian college that has a culture and history based on the Lord’s teachings. God honors reaching out to higher education.”

One can clearly see how God works through individuals. Calvin and Bunny exhibit such joy and grace in their lives and through their giving. Calvin feels truly blessed by God and sees it as his responsibility to pass that blessing on to Houghton. The money they invested allows them to collect payments until a specified time when the value of the trust’s assets will be distributed to the college.

Charitable remainder unitrusts (CRUT) are just one way to support Houghton while meeting personal financial goals and needs. The minimum amount required to fund a CRUT at Houghton is $150,000, while annuity minimums are $25,000. Please contact the Office of Gift Planning for more information or an illustration.