Calvin D. Denney

Dr. Calvin Davenport Denney, age 89, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2016, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on June 13, 1926 in Florala, Alabama to Levi and Audrey Denney as the youngest of two sons.  After graduating from high school he went on to attend the University of Alabama.

Upon completing his first year of college, he was called to proudly serve in World War II from 1945 to 1946. As a private in the Army, Dr. Denney spent his time primarily in France and Austria helping to secure the towns and villages that had just been recaptured from German occupying forces.

After the war ended, Dr. Denney came back to the United States and finished his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Alabama. He then entered the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee and earned his Degree of Optometry. He then married the love of his life, Wilma Powell, and they moved to Opp, Alabama in 1950 to begin a family.

After practicing for eight years in Opp, Dr. Denney and his family moved to Dothan, Alabama where he began working for Dr. Rollins Tindell at his practice located on West Main Street in downtown Dothan. In 1981 Dr. Denney bought the optometry practice from Dr. Tindell and it became what is now Denney Vision. He grew the business over time and was active seeing patients and running the business. Denney Vision is the largest private optometric practice in the Southeast.

Dr. Denney had a strong work ethic and received great satisfaction helping his patients with their vision care, as well as managing the optometry business. Most importantly he dearly loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them whenever possible.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma Denney, his three sons, Dr. David Nancy Denney, Dr. Dan Cathy Denney, and Stephen Diane Denney, and his daughter, Deborah Frank Jones. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Brad Denney Ashley, Joshua Denney, Shannon Peter Brasovan, Kate Justin Martin, Kyle Jones and Kirk Brittan Jones, as well as five great-grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held at 10:00 am on May 13th followed by a memorial service at the First Baptist Church of Dothan at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Dothan, Alabama or Gentiva Hospice.

Serving as pallbearers will Kyle Jones, Kirk Jones, Brad Denney, Joshua Denney, Justin Martin, and Peter Brasovan. Honorary pallbearers will be the physicians and staff of Denney Vision.