Donald Clark McCollum

Donald Clark McCollum, 77, of Pflugerville, TX, passed away unexpectedly in the early morning hours of Tuesday January 9th, 2018 at St. David’s Hospital in Austin, TX. Donald was born in Houston, TX to Aubrey “Red” and Elizabeth McCollum.

After leaving Houston, Donald attended high school in San Angelo and college at the University of Colorado in Boulder before enlisting in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force he learned Mandarin Chinese and spent the latter part of his service stationed in Taiwan, where he developed a love for the martial arts, eventually earning his third degree black belt in Judo.

After separating from the Air Force, Donald returned to school at the University of Washington earning a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Chinese. He then moved to Austin, Texas where he completed a master’s degree in Mathematics.

Donald worked as a computer programmer for the state of Texas for over 20 years. It was a job he loved mostly because he loved the people at his office. He treasured his work family and continued to work in the same position even after “retirement.” He eventually retired for good in 2015.

Donald was passionate about athletics. Throughout his life he participated in rock climbing, cross country skiing, weightlifting, martial arts, dancing, and running. He taught Judo for several years out of his own dojo and then out of his home. His favorite activity, however, was ballroom dancing which he began at the age of 13 and taught for over 20 years with the Austin Ballroom Dancers.

Donald was an educator and remained a life-long learner. He taught mathematics at Austin Community College and also previously taught drivers education classes. He was a bibliophile and spent countless hours teaching himself different languages, advanced mathematics, kinesiology, history, and amateur astronomy. He never passed up an opportunity to teach something to a friend, his spouse, his children, or his grandchildren.

Donald will forever be remembered for his compassion toward others, his unwavering generosity, and his wonderful sense of humor. Donald is survived by his wife of 26 years, Rosemary McCollum; his son David McCollum and daughter-in-law Nicole Chiota-McCollum, daughter Melissa Church, Gary and Fiona Ellis, and Shane Ellis; his grandchildren Alec and Owen McCollum, and Tyler, Zachary, Joshua, and Zoe Ellis; and numerous other friends and family members.

A viewing will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12th at the Cook-Walden/Capital Parks funeral home located at 14501 North Interstate 35 in Pflugerville, Texas. There will be a funeral service immediately follow the viewing.