Colleen Urbanek Obituary

MRS. COLLEEN (STOCKFORD) URBANEK, 88, died Sunday, April 9, 2006 peacefully at her home. Born March 25, 1918 in Sweetville, Louisiana. Colleen graduated from the University of Arkansas. Her parents; Louis G. Stockford and Myrtle Anna Morris Stockford, two sisters; Bernita L. Stockford, and Gretchen Oneika Wilson, and two brothers Laddie G. Stockford and Dr. David Morris Stockford preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of 57 years Dan Urbanek. Her sisters; Eloise Campbell of Ft. Pierce, Fl., Bobbie Ann Commander and Mary Gayle Cox both of Brenham, TX, N. Lucille Ferguson of Houston, TX, several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews also survive her. Colleen will be best remembered as the "Book Lady". She owned and operated the Out of Print Colleen's BookStore for 30 years starting in June 1971. A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 13, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at the Crespo Funeral Home Broadway Chapel. Rev. Paul Chovanec officiating. Family members will receive friends Wednesday, April 12, 2006, from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. at the Crespo Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family request donation be made to the University of Arkansas Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1070, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702 (888) 275-2586.

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Published by Houston Chronicle from Apr. 11 to Apr. 12, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Colleen Urbanek

12 Entries

JoAnne Ferguson

April 13, 2006

My condolences to Lucille, Mary Gayle and Bobbie Ann. Colleen was one of a kind and I will always remember her with fondness.

Cordelia Cummings

April 13, 2006

My heart felt sympathy to Mary and Bobbie for the loss of their dear sister Colleen.

Carol Delle

April 12, 2006

Colleen's long want list of books that appeared in the AB Bookman's Weekly, were the first I checked when the magazine arrived. I was a quoter of books then & sold books to Colleen. She was an icon of the "old-style" bookselling world. My sympathies to her family.

Carolyn Downing

April 12, 2006

When I started in the used book business over 30 years ago, Colleen was one of the first to give a warm welcome to this newcommer. Like so many other book dealer friends, we never met in person, but her advice, quick humor and book knowledge was just a postcard away. Colleen will certainly be missed, but never forgotten. Carolyn Downing, Significant Books

Polly (AKA O;;y) Bennett

April 12, 2006

How Colleen would have loved seeing that I made a grammatical mistake on the first entry I wrote in here! (the mixture...are) We used to "edit" those mistakes that we heard being made by others, and she is , no doubt, chuckling at mine. But that mistake is at least partly indicative of my mental turmoil caused by (1) her death, and (2) by her dying the day before my birthday and without giving me a chance to say goodbye. I shall most certainly take her to task for it when next I see her! But she already knows what is in my heart, just as she always has.

As I said before, see you later, my Friend.

Candy Murdock

April 11, 2006

Colleen was my oldest aunt. I'll never, ever be able to express my gratitude for all she did for my sister and me. She took us to the zoo, to concerts, to plays...and she attended all our ballet recitals, school shows, and other productions. She loved us and we loved her so much...vaya con Dios, Aunt Ebert.

Candy Williamson Murdock, Rome, GA (and Bob, Lydia, Mellany, Laura, Holly, Julie, Kelsea, Robbie, Keith, Mallory, Mariah, Alyssa, Ben, and Logan Murdock--Colleen's nephew-in-law and grandnieces and nephews)

Christine (and Chester) Doby

April 11, 2006

Like Mark Twain who went out with Haley's Comet, Colleen went out with the last of the Traditional Bookmen and Used and Rare Bookstores. She was part of a wonderful era. I will miss her and the bookstore very much. A Book Buyers Shop, Houston

Polly Bennett

April 11, 2006

I have known Colleen for almost 40 years, and I never had a better friend. I loved her Bookstore, and for a few years I spent most Saturdays there with her. Her mixture of common sense and zany sense of humor are legendary. See you later, Colleen.

Mary & Jody Johnson

April 11, 2006

Our favorite memories of Colleen will always be as the "3rd wheel" on our Saturday dates, because an afternoon at her bookstore was far more entertaining to us than a movie or dinner. She gave me many loving, behind-the-scenes sales pitches on my husband, a "regular," whom she adored. The jokes & tales she would tell!... we were spellbound as she recounted her early, pre-bookstore experiences as an independent, educated, young woman working far from home in "a man's world;" if memory serves correctly, once with the DOD or a related industry. Her wit never failed, in retirement years once referring to the "hunks" from the Houston Fire Dept's EMS team who paid her an emergency call at home.

Words are inadquate to express the profound sadness of losing Colleen... she was a dear friend & a truly irreplaceable icon of Houston. Our deepest sympathy goes out to her beloved "Danno," family, friends, and "her people"... the countless customers she held dear.

Kevin Mac Donnell

April 11, 2006

Colleen was a wonder! I was 17 when she opened her bookshop not far from my home in Garden Villas, and her influence on my life has been profound. Her candor, humor, independence, compassion, and talent for meeting life head-on was equal to that of any other ten people that I've ever known. I am a bookseller today, inspired by her example. I will be forever grateful that Colleen came into my life when she did, and her spirit will never leave me.

Dorothy Newcomb

April 11, 2006

I still have a clear vision of Colleen on the other side of that bookstore counter, her eyes dancing and that wonderful laugh. I used to spend hours there getting a fix, basking in the sunshine in the last outpost of sanity, looking at posted cartoons while the lady was on the phone, thumbing through book titles while she checked out customers, waiting for the space when I could lean my elbows on the counter and just talk again with Colleen. She had an outlook on life uniquely her own. No one else could quite fit the measurements. Love you Colleen. And I will miss you.

Jo Felts

April 11, 2006

4/11/2006

Colleen was a great friend - I will always miss her book store - there will never be another like it. She was one of a kind as well!! Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends and all of those who remember what a great book store is supposed to be!!

Jo and Catherine Felts

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