Columbus Stutes

STUTES
Born: November 27, 1937
in Lafayette, LA
Departed: March 5, 2014
Residence: Pipe Creek, TX
Service Date:
March 22, 2014 at 2 PM
Service Location:
Grimes Funeral Chapels Bandera

Columbus Stutes Jr. was born November 27, 1937 in Lafayette, LA to Columbus Stutes and Margaret Helen Webb. His mother moved to San Antonio, TX in 1947 with her children. They lived in the Harlandale area. He attended Harlandale High School. He graduated in 1957. He married his high school sweetheart in December 1957. He went to work for the TX Highway Dept. upon his graduation. He had been blessed to attend Electronics with Mr. E.B. Lofton. He attended night school Business College and graduated with an Associate's Degree in Electronics. He also took parallel courses with the Air Force Reserves. He was in the reserves for 16 years. At that time he took his degree to his boss and received a promotion to Radio Shop Foreman. He retired after 42 years. He was prominent in many things. He was Fire Chief of Grey Forest VFD, President of Bexar County Volunteer Fire Service, Cub Scout Master, President of the Scenic Loop Play Ground Club, the TX Public Employees Association, committee member with Helotes Methodist Church and Bandera Methodist Church. He was President of the Bandera County Helping Hands, member of board of directors with the Helotes Lions Club. He also ran the Stutes Electric and Repair and he had been totally in charge of building 2 family homes from the ground up. He loved spending time with his children and his 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He would do anything for them except buy a $5 Disney Princess coloring book. The granddaughter got a lecture on money and did she realize that bread used to be a nickel for a loaf and a gallon of gas.
He had many friends which is no surprise. If anyone came to him with a problem, he'd do what he could to "fix" it. If he couldn't "fix" it he'd give you a word of encouragement or he'd put a positive spin on the situation. He was the champion of one line jokes; so if all else failed he'd come up with a "one liner" that made you laugh or smile. He remained positive to the end. But he came up against cancer, for which there was "no fix". He will be missed by many. He was preceded in death by his parents, Columbus and Margaret Webb Stutes, 2 brothers, Robert Stutes and Sidney Miller; stepfather, William A. Williams; and John S. Self, his father-in-law and best friend; brother-in-law, Raymond Perry; sister-in-law, Barbara Miller; grandson, Columbus Norment; son-in-law, Bubba Norment; many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He spent his final days doing what he loved most: visiting and talking with many friends who came to visit from far and near. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ginger Stutes; sisters, Ann Perry and Laura Hawthorne; sister-in-law, Barbara Thompson; children, Columbus, Kathleen, John, Kelly and Eric and their spouses; 7 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren and more friends than anyone can believe. He will be greatly missed. He would not want us to be sad because he is now at peace, on his way "Beyond the Veil." He will be waiting for us to rejoin him when it is our "time to go home." There will be a celebration of life at 2 pm, Saturday, March 22, 2014 for family and friends at Grimes Funeral Chapels. He will be cremated with his remains entombed in Bandera City Cemetery. Please no flowers. If you so choose, make a donation to your favorite charity.