William Albert Lum

William Albert Lum was born at home on May 21, 1931 in Tarkington, TX to Rev. S.E. Lum, Sr. and Nellie Fenter Lum. Al passed away Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at his home in Paris, Texas. The family received friends from 6 – 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bright-Holland Funeral Home in Paris. A visitation was held from 5 – 8 p.m. Wednesday at Forest Park East Funeral Home in Webster, Texas. Funeral services were conducted at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6th at the chapel of Forest Park East Funeral Home with burial following in Forest Park East Cemetery. William Lum, (his friends and family called him Al) grew up in Tarkington Prairie and graduated from Tarkington High School in 1949. Al played basketball and football throughout his high school years. After graduating from Tarkington High School, he attended Sam Houston State Teachers College where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. During his college years, Al would work in the Logging and Sawmill business during the summer months to make enough money to pay his college education. He graduated from Sam Houston with honors in 1953. After his college graduation, Al was inducted into the U.S. Army and served 2 years in the Medical Corps. He, being stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, met the first love of his life – Helen Sue Buzbee. Al and Sue dated for about a year before he was discharged. During the next year, Al lived with his brother, S.E. and sister-in-law, Doris in Pasadena, TX during which Sue was finishing High School before their marriage in June of 1956. They married before God, friends, and family in the Assembly of God Church in Lawton, OK. Al and Sue moved to Pasadena, TX to raise a family. Later He decided to go back to college for his masters degree in Administrative Education. Al graduated from the University of Houston on May 30, 1970. For 17 years, he taught 7th grade math at South Houston Intermediate in the Pasadena Independent School District located in South Houston, TX. Later in Al’s career he took a position as Assistant Director of Transportation for P.I.S.D. He remained in that position for 15 years until his retirement. In addition to the 32 years of working for the school district, he maintained an AFLAC Insurance business known as Lum’s Financial Services. While residing in Pasadena, he was a member of First Assembly of God Church for 21 years. While attending there he was a deacon, leader of Men’s Fellowship, sang in the choir, and coached the men’s church basketball league. Al always had a firm belief in Jesus and his favorite expression of his belief was through music and singing. Al and his brother S.E., his sister-in-law Doris and his brother-in-law Larry DeHart began singing Southern Gospel. For 17 years, he traveled and sang tenor with his family; The Lum Family Quartet, and traveled across the United States spreading the gospel through their music. In 1981 Al and Sue became members of Central Assembly of God Church. In the following years Al was the Church Missions Director, served for the Men’s Fellowship, and served on the board. Al and Sue traveled many times for missions overseas until Sue’s death in July 2005. They were married 49 years. Al continued his Missions work at Central Assembly for a couple of years and had completed a total of 9 mission trips to various parts of the world. Al’s vision for the 300 member church was to raise $1,000,000 for missions. Before that goal was reached Al relocated to Paris, TX to marry the next love of his life, Sharon Temple Crumbley. They married October 7, 2007 at the Paris Church of God in Paris, TX. They would have been married 9 years on Friday, October 7, 2016. He was known and loved for his sense of humor. Al’s collection of one-liners and funny stories were compiled into a book which he called AL-ISMS. He was preceded in death by his parents Rev. and Mrs. S.E. Lum, his first wife Helen Sue Buzbee Lum, his brothers, S.E. Lum, Jr. and Rev. Richard (Pete) Lum, his step brother LeRoy Vaughn, and his sister, Nellie Floreda Lum DeHart. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Lum; 2 daughters; Carla Moffatt and husband Rowland, Debra Wright and husband Rick; grandsons, Blake Moffatt and wife Melanie and Grant Moffatt; granddaughters, Caitlin Wright, Rachael Moffatt Socha and husband Quintin; sister-in-laws, Doris Meyer and husband Jim, and Mary Lum. Brother-in-laws, Larry DeHart, Terry Temple and wife Faye; stepsons, Stacy Hatcher and wife Melanie, Shane Hatcher and wife Becky; step-daughter, Tamara Spellman and husband Jeff. Step-grandsons, Ryan Hatcher, Blain Hatcher, Logan Fountain, and Acen Hatcher; step-granddaughters, Mercedes Hatcher and Blayre Hatcher; a host of nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends. He will be missed by all. To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.forestparkeast-fhc.com