Dates
Patsy Ruth Gustin, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2014. Pat was born on March 2, 1931 in San Angelo. Her parents were Raymond B. Welch, Sr. and Alice Mae (Womble) Welch. Her paternal grandparents were I.N. “Newt” and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Welch, the founders of Welch Transfer and Storage. Her maternal grandparents were W.E. and Ida Womble. Pat graduated from San Angelo High School in 1948. She grew up loving both of her brothers, Colt 45 baseball, drive-in movies, music, dancing, fishing, and animals.
Mom was a Christian who read her Bible daily. Before her health declined in 2008, she used to sit in her recliner in the mornings, drink her coffee and read in order to catch the best light from the window. She kept a journal until she grew too frail, and she always tried to be grateful.
Mom had many special things that she cherished with all her heart. She loved animals, especially dogs, and she and her husband Dale shared complete devotion to their pets during their life together. The Atlanta Braves team was her favorite for many years, above all other teams, but she was interested in any aspect of baseball. Mom loved Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jessie Dixon and Willie Nelson, and she received great enjoyment just being able to listen to their music. Mom did not spend money on hobbies – she had her baseball games on television and her music on her record albums and cds. She also loved Clark Gable and Elizabeth Taylor, and was a great fan of classic movies and famous movie stars from many years back. She amazed many people by her ability to recall movie titles and the names of leading ladies and gentlemen.
Mom had absolutely beautiful handwriting and she was an excellent speller, both to the point of perfection. She always expected good grades from her children. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing church dresses and school clothes, as well as dance recital costumes when her daughter Vicki was growing up. She was an imaginative and capable cook, but always humble in all of her domestic accomplishments.
Pat was a member of Harris Avenue Baptist Church in San Angelo for many years. She and Dale joined Calvary Baptist Church in Big Spring, Texas where they were active and faithful members. Mom missed her friends in Big Spring so much, especially her neighbors on State Street, and her church friends, and she dearly loved her pastor, Herb McPherson and his wife Mary Sue.
When Mom became a grandmother in 1980, life was never the same. She was incredibly proud of her grandsons, Jeffrey Alan McCollum and Bryan Ross McCollum and her granddaughter, Kristen Paige McCollum. She dearly loved her beautiful granddaughters-in-law, Karen and Merisa. Mom was delighted and thankful to recently meet Kristen’s fiancé, Matt Kamas.
Pat is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Warren Dale Gustin, her daughter and son-in-law, Vicki and Don McCollum, daughter-in-law Joanne, her three grandchildren, her two great-granddaughters Cyndah Deanne Lacy and Adaline Paige (Addy) McCollum, a brother, James Welch, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was especially fond of her nephew and his wife, Gary and Janie Welch, of Arlington, Texas. Pat loved and respected her stepchildren Peggy Gustin, Vicki Gustin Menchaca, and Billy Gustin and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Raymond B. Welch, Jr. and both of her sons, Richard and Scotty.
She also leaves behind her most faithful little dog Kirby and the memories of her other precious pets, Ginger, Tuffy, and Buster. She loved them with all her heart.
Mom was looking forward to meeting her Maker, and she had no fear of dying. Thank you, Mom, for being a loving wife, mother and grandmother. You will be missed every day, but we are thankful you are finally at peace with no more pain.
Thanks to Dr. Peter Chang for his unwavering patience and genuine compassion, Dr. D’Arcie Chitwood, Gentiva Hospice, Dr. Timothy Hopkins at Shannon Clinic, the nurses at Triumph Hospital and Shannon Medical Center, Ed Halfast of St. Luke UMC, those who visited, and those who prayed for Mom during her frequent hospitalizations. The family is grateful for the loving care she received at Park Plaza Nursing Center during the last three years of her life. God Bless you all, with special thanks to Travis, Juanita and Lupe. We are also thankful to Pranee Gomes for always being cheerful, optimistic and kind, back when Mom had her Saturday appointments at the beauty shop. The family is grateful to Maria Chacon, Julia Griffin, Rosalina Martinez, and Alejandra Martinez, Mom’s caregivers and companions, to whom we owe so much. Mom’s life was extended through their showing of love, compassion and tenderness. Mom considered Maria her second daughter.
Visitation with the family present will be at Robert Massie Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, September 16, 2014. A private graveside service for the family will be held at Belvedere Memorial Park with Associate Pastor Ed Halfast officiating under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home.
What God Hath Promised
God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives thro’;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
God hath not promised
We shall not know
Toil and temptation,
Trouble and woe;
He hath not told us
We shall not bear
Many a burden,
Many a care.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.
To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Patsy Ruth Gustin please visit our Tribute Store.