James “Wayne” Calvert , 98, of Denton passed away Thursday, July 9, 2026 at Presbyterian Hospital of Denton. He was born February 11, 1928 in Bartonville , Texas to John Martin and Sealie McCleod Calvert. He attended Lewisville Public Schools and graduated from Lewisville High School in 1946. He joined the US Navy after high school and served for two years. He married Doris Maxine DuPree on June 24, 1950 and she preceded him in death on July 21, 2013.

Wayne worked for several auto shops and dealerships in Denton before he went to work with his brothers Marvin and Lewis Calvert in the mid 1950’s. His love of cars and motorcycles were influenced by Marvin and Lewis. The Calvert boys were well known around Denton and the surrounding area by racing enthusiasts and a few Highway Patrolmen as well.

Because of his love of racing and autos he decided to specialize and build those high performance engines that made those vehicles go. In the 1963 he opened Wayne Calvert Racing Engines on Dallas Drive. (Also known as “Skunk Wurks” to an elite few. ) Eventually the business was renamed Wayne Calvert Precision Engines.

Wayne was well known in the racing circles in Texas and elsewhere. In 1979 he was one of the first 15 inductees into the National Hot Rod Association Hall of Fame. A great honor in the sport of drag racing.

In 1972-73 he became a Mason during which time he did serve as Worshipful Master.

Wayne became a private pilot in the 1970’s and learned to fly his brother Lewis’ s Cessna 180. He loved flying and taking friends and family up for a ride or an occasional trip to Oklahoma for breakfast. He was also known to use a highway or road for a makeshift landing strip. But as all good things sometimes do this hobby did eventually come to an end at the “gentle” request of his wife Maxine.

He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing and four wheeling with family and friends out in southwest Texas for a number of years. He travelled to France and London with 3 other good buddies in the early 2000s. He paid his respects to those heroes who gave their lives on DDay.

He was a determined and amazing man, son, husband, dad and friend. He worked at his shop up until a week before his passing. He will be truly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by two daughters, Debbie Calvert of The Colony, and Rhonda Calvert, of Denton; a son, Randy Calvert, of Denton and a granddaughter, Ashleigh Calvert-Bonner of The Colony. Nieces and Nephews: Dian Calvert Miller of Argyle, Alan Calvert of Denton, Mary Calvert Moses of New Braunfels, Linda Robertson Lang of San Antonio, Don Robertson of Denton, Anne Aronowitz Newell of Little Rock, Ark, and Steve Aronowitz of Anken, IA.