Mr. Rubben E. McCollum, age 82, of Winfield, passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. He was born on April 17, 1938 in Bazemore, AL to the late Gertis McCollum and Pina Rice McCollum.
Mr. McCollum attended his early school years in Bazemore, AL. In 1958 he relocated to Milwaukee, WI where he completed his education at MATC and Marquette University. He worked for A. O. Smith as a welder for 16 years.
Rubben married his beautiful wife, Bobbie, in 1961 in Milwaukee. They accepted Christ in baptism in 1962 at Central Church of Christ and labored there as the Assistant Minister for 19 years under the late John O. Williams. In 1980, he moved to Knoxville, TN where he served at the Park City Church of Christ for 2 years, helping to build a new edifice, now known as the McDonald Drive Church of Christ. He served for another 3 years there. He then moved to Dayton, OH to the Gard Ave Church of Christ where he served for more than 12 years. From there, he went on to the Wooster Ave Church of Christ in Akron, OH where he served almost 3 years and he decided to retire to his birth home. God was not finished with him and preaching the Word was in his bones. He was asked to serve as the minister in Jasper, AL at the 24th Street Church of Christ, where he served for 11 years, after which he decided to retire. His retirement didn’t last long when he was asked to serve as Assistant Minister at Mayfield Church of Christ, now known as Inner City Church of Christ in Fayette, AL. Rubben also enjoyed working his BBQ business, R & B Smoked Ribs, which he worked for 15 years. His specialty was the most tender ribs and delicious Boston Butts in the surrounding area.
Mr. McCollum was preceded in death by his parents, Gertis and Pina McCollum, brothers, A. C., Grady, Howard and Carter McCollum, and his sisters, Nellie J. McCollum, Essea J. Douglas and Linda Armstead.
Fondly cherishing the memory of Rubben is his wife of 59 years, Bobbie Hunt McCollum, sons, Regis T. McCollum (Alicia) of Dayton, OH and Rodney N. McCollum of Bazemore, AL, and a daughter, Rita Z. McCollum of Louisville, KY, grandchildren, India Marie and Andrew T. McCollum of Dayton, OH, and a great grandson, Kyrin Murphy, his adopted daughter Jackie Blake, his brothers, Dan McCollum (Mary) of Tupelo, MS, Miles McCollum (Evelyn) of Phoenix, AZ, Charles McCollum and James Richey both of Winfield, AL and a host of nieces, nephews, other family, church family, colleagues in the gospel and other friends.
The wife and family of Mr. McCollum would like to thank the following friends that helped with, prayed for and assisted with Rubben in any way during his illness. Dr. James Moss and his staff, Kindred Hospice Care and Home Health, Doctors and Nurses at UAB Hospital, Brother and Sister Larry Johnson, Brother and Sister Mathew Miles, Central Pointe Church of Christ in Bloomington, IL, Joe Trull and family of California, our church family, and all of our neighbors and friends.
A memorial service for Mr. McCollum will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. from the Bowen Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. service time at the funeral home. Bowen Funeral Home serving the McCollum family.
