Irene Frances Newton

Irene, a beloved sister, wife, and Aunt passed away on December 18, 2025, at the age of 99. Irene was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Samuel and Lillian McCollom. She graduated from Center High School in Kansas City. Irene moved to California in her twenties living in Hollywood, seeking a career in the movie business. She told the men she met she was in movies and her name was Savra. Later she met Bob, the love of her life. They went to Las Vegas to get married—in their Cadillac and were happily married for 60 years.

They lived in Hollywood in a typical Hollywood apartment on Poinsettia, then they moved into a beautiful home that Bob built in the Hollywood Hills. While living in Los Angeles they enjoyed the Hollywood Bowl, Farmers Market, and all that the area offered culturally.

Irene worked as a secretary and always enjoyed her work, having a good time with fellow employees bowling and doing other fun things. After LA, for four years they lived in Stockton and then moved to their favorite place--San Diego. They loved San Diego and were happy to show it off, driving to all the sites, telling stories and giving history lessons to anyone that visited them. They spent many Sundays in Balboa Park listening to organ concerts and visiting the museums.

Together Irene and Bob never met a stranger. They had so much fun talking to everyone. They were always happy together and so well suited for each other

Irene was a great cook and she loved to eat. She had a hearty appetite. She enjoyed her meals with friends until the very end.

She was a walker, she went everywhere on foot. She and Bob went to estate sales and would sell furniture, art and collectibles in their garage.

Irene always had a saying and credited her Mom with most of them. You’d hear her say Manischvitz, If it’s not one thing. . . it’s two! She also loved to give everyone a nickname. Her nickname for Bob was Scoop (based on a name he had in a play in Hollywood where he was a reporter, Scoop). She was known by Renie by many.

Irene loved her family. Living in La Mesa, she and Bob got to enjoy many family gatherings and celebrations with Lisa and Kelly and Steve. She enjoyed visits from niece Jeni and her husband Byron going to her favorite restaurants to eat.

Irene prayed daily for all her beloved family, sending love to everyone. She cared deeply for her family near and far and she shared a special spiritual bond with Kim.

In her last five years of life, she enjoyed living at Grossmont Gardens in La Mesa, enjoying the friendship of residents and staff alike. Kelly brightened her days there with outings for donuts and those trips to CVS for basics.

She is survived by her nieces Jeni Nichols and husband Byron; Dianne Pearson, Arlene Stafford, Celia Trusler and husband Steve, Bobby McCollom and wife Auriela; her great nieces Kelly White and husband Steve, Lisa McCollom and future husband Otis Gilmore, and Kim Maciarello. Great nephew Mike McCollom. And great-great nephew Bryce and wife Chloe Mayer and son Wyatt (great-great-great nephew), great-great nephew Austin Mayer and wife Emmanuela and Soria Ruiz (great-great nephew). Bob’s family was her family, Nancy Newton Caswell, Gordon Van Tassel and wife Karen, Joan Schmidtz and husband Joe, and Elaine Baer.

And other family members and dear friends. She will be forever in our hearts.