So sorry to find out that Delmas passed away. Del was Mr IBM in El Paso for many years. Respected and beloved by customers and his peers. Del McCullum was my friend and mentor for many years and there was no one I ever respected more. I believe Del is making heaven a better place.

Del McCollum and I served in the IS Air Force. We flew as crew members of  2 different RB-50 crews in the US at 2 Air Bases and several overseas bases in the Far East and in Europe. We both went to work for IBM after leaving the Air Force and remained in contact. We visited Mac and Mary at El Paso and at Los Cruses and he visited us at Chicago. A very dear friend for many years. A man of integrity. May God Bless his memory.  Vern Rasmussen, MN

I am so grateful to have had this amazing man as my grandfather, my Papaw. I learned so much from him. He was intelligent, funny, silly, caring, and loving. He was very humble and rarely said one negative word about anything or anyone. He always saw the bright side to every situation no matter how bad. He loved taking adventures and living life to the fullest. I loved that he loved taking pictures of all those adventures. I feel that I knew him throughout his whole life because of all his silly pictures. I have the most wonderful memories of him that I will never forget. Camping and fishing at Silver Lake, sliding down hills at White Sands, and walking through the Space Museum. I remember sometimes building with him in his garage with all his carpentry equipment. And of course learning how to work a computer at such a young age. I remember being confused in elementary school as to why I was the only one who knew how to work a PC already. I don't know if teaching us how to use a computer at such a young age was his intention to help us excel in school or not but it worked. He was always so supportive in out lives and made sure to attend any sports events that my sister and I were involved in. He was the whole package of what a son, husband, friend, dad, and grandfather should be. He could help fix anything whether it be brain work or labor work. He could light up any room that he walked into. I love him so much and miss him dearly.

I am so grateful to have had this amazing man as my grandfather, my Papaw. I learned so much from him. He was intelligent, funny, caring, and loving. He was very humble and rarely said one negative word about anything or anyone. He always saw the bright side to every situation no matter how bad. He always loved to have adventures and made sure to take as many pictures as he could of those adventures. I have the greatest memories of him that I will never forget. Some of those memories include going camping and fishing at Silver lake, Whites Sands, and the Space Museum. He was also very supportive and would try to attend any sports event that my sister and I were involved in. I remember building with him in his garage with all his carpentry equipment. And of course I remember learning so much about computers at such a young age. He was a man who was both intelligent and strong. He was the whole package who could fix anything whether it be brain work or labor work, he was always there for our family. He could light up any room that he walked into and I miss him dearly.

John enjoyed working with Del for many years in New Mexico and El Paso. He and Del are probably swapping computer stories in God's computer room. Del was a great friend to all.
With deepest sympathy,
Sylvia Boudreau

When I sat down to write this, I didn't know where to start. Not because I don't have enough to say about this beautiful soul, but because there are just so many great things to say about Del McCollum. To me, Del McCollum is Papaw, a man who well exceeded his duties of a family man and grandfather. For those who did know him well, or even those who only had a brief encounter with him, knew how special he was. Kind, thoughtful, helpful, silly and playful are just a few words that can begin to describe him. 
Growing up, my sister and I spend a generous amount of time with him and my Mimi. My fondest memories of him go as far back as my daycare days. I would light up with excitement when he would pick me up at the end of the afternoon. As I got older, after-school-activities turned into play dates at Pistol Pete's Pizza. He and I could play Skeeball for hours. I remember the days of him bouncing me on his knees, and counting my ribs as an excuse to tickle me. After they moved to Las Cruces, their new home became my favorite place for adventures. He built a 6x10 sandbox for us on the side of his house, and even made me a sifter to collect rocks. He also taught me how to use a power saw. Every summer was a camping trip to Silver Lake to fish or to another nearby city. I vividly recall trips to White Sands, City of Rock State Park, and the Space Museum. Christmas just wasn't the same if we weren't spending Christmas Eve in the peaceful outskirts of Las Cruces with Mimi and Papaw. It's something I will always treasure. They were present for basketball games, track meets, award ceremonies and graduations. As soon as I was able to hold my own head up as an infant, he would sit me on his lap in front of the computer while he worked. Over the years until I was a teenager, he would buy me new computer games which I would immediately become addicted to. As I became an adult, the games were replaced by TurboTax. He always took care of me no matter how old I got. 
One of the most precious gifts he gave to me in life was setting the bar of how a man should love his wife. He always took special care of my Mimi. He worked hard, and made the most out of life. These examples inspired me to find the same qualities in a companion of my own. I believe he's due some credit for me finding a loving, hard-working, Papaw-approved husband. The first time my husband met Papaw was four years ago. I was in another room and overheard Papaw telling him how special I was to him. As I stand here today, I can only hope he knew how special he was to us, and how much we will forever love him.

Del was our go to guy with IBM, he was able to sniff out any bug that was causing us trouble in large main frames to small Pc's. We couldn't have done it with out his expertise plus he was a great guy to work with. Boy are going to miss him. Thanks Del for the good memories. Rex Porter

Del was a good friend.  When anything went very wrong with an IBM computer  in or around El Paso Del was there to help fix it.  He saved me more times than I like to admit.  I always repaid him by beating up on him at racquetball. Mary is glad to get him back.  God's computers are in good hands.

Del was my Uncle and he and his precious wife Mary, who preceded him to the eternal realm, were both very loving and caring people. God bless you Del and may He welcome you to grand new adventures in the heavenly realm.  
Onward,
Jimmy and Nancy Hotz

Del and Mary helped me adjust after I left the navy and IBM transferred me to El Paso.I was a long way from home and they became a brother and sister. I'll mis you Del. RIP. Dick Van Meter.

Del was a great friend, we enjoyed each others company and good laughs, along with his super knowldge of working on my PC
I will and still do miss him....
Now he is with the love of his life
and smiling.
Robert Campos

Del and I started to work for IBM in the El Paso, Texas Branch office, in 1957.  We were called CE for Customer Engineer.  Over the years our titles changed  but we still fixed machines and programming problems for IBM's customers in the southwest.  Del became the local Technician Specialist, the man called to assist us ordinary Techs on their toughest problems. He was so Technically Proficient, that we, in the local Field Engineering Division, gave him our own "Super-Tech Award".  Del became everyone's best friend and go-to expert.  By the time we retired, we all had Personal Computers on which we did our own maintenance.  Del remained our Super-Tech.  I  learned to be careful about mentioning computer problems unless I really needed his help, because he took every  problem as his problem and tackled it with the same tenacity that was characteristic of his entire career.  That was Del. He was like that until the awful fall stole his skills.  No wonder so many thought of him as their own best friend.  We miss you old pal, and hate to give you up, but I suspect that God needs a Super-Tech on HIS big Computer in the Sky.  Max Crow

Del was a great person, mentor, and good friend. I will miss him always.
Felipe Villanueva

Del was a great person, mentor, and good friend. I will miss him always.

Del was a good friend.....we knew him and Mary; spent time with them at their house on occasion when traveling back East in the summer and often in Laughlin, NV.  He was a special Man and will be sorely missed.
Tom and Kathy Bachman, Benson, AZ

I've known Del since 1961 when I joined IBM.  Del was a super tech and a friend to all who knew him.  Rest in peace, my friend.

Dad was the most caring and generous person I've ever known. He was loved by all and will be greatly missed. I know he and Mom are embracing each other now and looking down on us with a smile.

OBITUARY

Del McCollum Jr.

June 15, 1935 – November 2, 2017

Martin Funeral Home East

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