Katherine McCollom

November 2, 2019

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Katherine T. McCollom, 89, was born in Durant, OK, on October 9, 1923, to Roy R. and Laura Leard Tompkins and passed away in Ft. Worth, TX on November 2, 2019.  Katherine graduated from OSU with a bachelor's degree in education.  In 1944, she and Kenneth McCollom were married.  She later earned a master's degree from OSU.  She taught Freshman English at both OSU and the University of Illinois.  In the 1950s, Katherine and Kenneth moved to Barlesville, OK, when he began working for Phillips Petroleum.  The family also lived in Tennessee and Idaho when Phillips was developing nuclear energy,  In 1962, they moved to Ames, IA, where Kenneth completed a Ph.D.  They returned to Stillwater in 1964, and Katherine worked as a counselor in the College of Arts & Sciences for a number of years.  Both Katherine and Kenneth were strong supporters of the OSU Emeriti Association, as he served as a founding member.  Later, Katherine made substantial gifts to the Emeriti Association, one of which was used to enrich the Association's scholarship program.  She was also involved in a number of local community groups.  In addition to her two sons, Alan and Neal, she is survived by three grandchildren and two great grandchildren as well as by numerous nieces and nephews.