ALTON H. "BILL" MCCOLLUM died peacefully Friday morning, the 9th of July 2010, at Brighton Gardens of Bellaire Retirement Home. He was 95. He was preceded in death by his parents, his six siblings, and his beloved wife of 62 years, Edwina "Itzi" Talbot McCollum. He is survived by daughter, Judy Christensen of Katy; son, Howard McCollum and wife, Linda of Houston; granddaughter, Karen Christensen Reeves of Livingston; grandson, Ronald Christensen and wife, Jodi of Baytown; granddaughter, Jennifer McCollum Alexander and husband, Matt of Round Rock; great-grandson, Daniel Garrett Reeves and wife, Ashley of Dallas; great-granddaughters, Kara Reeves of Livingston, Melissa Christensen of Houston and Brooke Christensen of Houston; great-grandsons, Jackson and Daniel Alexander of Round Rock; numerous nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. Bill was born on the 11th of May 1915, in Thibodaux, LA, and spent his young years there and graduated from Thibodaux High School. He went to work for Railway Express as a teenager and worked there for 42 years, until his retirement. He started at the bottom but in later years rose to management. He worked in many different cities during his long career. He met the love of his life at a dance at Patin's in Labadieville, LA, when he was 19, and spent the next five years convincing her to marry him. But it was a perfect match for them both, and he and Itzi were quite a pair. They were always involved with extended family, and made many friends in all the places they lived. Bill was a kind and gentle man, slow to anger and quick with a funny one-liner, always willing to laugh at himself and with others. He had boundless love for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be missed terribly, not only by family, but by so many whose lives he touched.The family wishes to express its sincere gratitude to physician Richard Jackson and to caregivers Sharon Phillips and Monica Murillo for their love and care over many years. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from three until five o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 11th of July, in the Drawing Room of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 12th of July, in the Jasek chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons in Houston, where Rev. Msgr. William L. Young, Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is to officiate. The Interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston. Immediately following the interment service, there will be a reception for family and friends at the home of Howard and Linda McCollum. In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Mr. McCollum's name may be directed to the March of Dimes, 3000 Weslayan Street, Houston TX, 77027-5741; American Heart Association , 10060 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX, 77054-1302; or to the charity of one's choice.
Published in Houston Chronicle on July 11, 2010