Cal Mathew Elkins, 77, of Cross Roads, Texas, passed away on Nov. 21, 2018. He was born to parents Melvin Marion Elkins and Lenna May Elkins, on Aug. 3, 1941 in Salem, Oregon.

Cal graduated from Central High School in Independence, OR in 1959 and went on to study Engineering at Oregon State College.  After college he served in the National Guard during Vietnam.

Cal was an amazing entrepreneur and with his engineering background he had the ability come up with some phenomenal ideas for businesses.  He built these companies from the ground up.  He seemed drawn to working with steel early on.  He started with steel studs as frames for buildings with his company "Studco".  He opened multiple locations across the US.  At one-point Cal thought he might retire and sold his company.  But soon realized that working was in his blood and worked on new adventures that took him to Saudi Arabia for 2 years installing a new pipe irrigation plant, along with all the machinery. Upon returning to the US his engineering background brought him to design a new buckle for Snowboards and before you knew it, he was manufacturing them out of a small warehouse down the street from his home.  Cal was always thinking of new ventures and it was through his good friend Bob that he found his final calling.   He started National Frame Rail in 1999 to manufacture frame rails for trucks.  Over the years, he grew this from a small space in Gainesville to a large plant in Sanger, Texas.  Cal never retired.  He worked up to his last days always trying to improve the business.

Although Cal could be considered a work-a-holic, he also had a passion for flying and racing too.  He loved to build and fly planes and cars. He loved flying helicopters.  He volunteered his time as a helicopter pilot for the sheriff's department as a deputy sheriff.

Cal met Pamela Lee Oberson at 16 years old. They were married Oct 11, 1963, in Independence, Oregon. Together they raised two sons.

Cal is survived by wife, Pam; two sons, Matthew Cal (Breese) & Mark Melvin; two grandchildren, Paige & Daegan; one brother, James D. Elkins (Karen); two sisters, Gayle Elkins Reed & Billi Rice DeLashmutt (Keith); four nieces; Christy Elkins-Jackman (Jeff), Jordan Hagen (Eric), Brook Rice & Ashley Rice;  three nephews; Alan Elkins (Shannon), Douglas Elkins (Molly) & Jamie Wolgamot, and many cousins, family, friends and others.

He was preceded in death by parents; Melvin and Lenna May Elkins, step-father; Paul Silke and niece; Michelle Reed.

A memorial service will be planned after the holidays.