Obituary for Edith Tountas
Edith Marie Matthews Tountas passed away in Bryan, Texas on January 26, 2021. Visitation will be at OakCrest Funeral Home on Friday, January 29, 2021 from 5-7 pm. Graveside services are set for Saturday, January 29th at 11 am at Oakwood Cemetery with Joe Keyes of Salado officiating. Social distancing and facial covering will be required.
Edith was born May 11, 1921 in Dawson, Texas to Vera Roberts and Robert LeRoy Matthews, the first of four sisters. She was raised in and around Dawson and graduated as salutatorian from Dawson High School. She decided to move to Waco to attend business school and took a room with a lady in the 2000 block of Herring Avenue.
Little did she know how her choice of housing location would affect the rest of her life. Living across the street was a family with two boys about her age and she "took a shine" to one of them, James Tountas. He would become the love of her life and they were married on December 27, 1941. Edith worked at First Federal Savings and Loan as a secretary. World War II started just a few weeks before they were married and James enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He would end up serving in Europe until the end of the war. Edith continued to work at First Federal while James was at war. Once he returned she became a housewife. In 1948, they had their first son, Jim, and five years later had their second son, Bob.
Edith's life revolved around being a homemaker, being involved in many different areas at Columbus Avenue Church of Christ and being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was well known for her cooking, especially her baking, which she continued to do up until her death. She would search the internet looking for new recipes to try. She continued into her late eighties to host an open house each Christmas for the members of her church where she would decorate and cook for all to enjoy. She taught Sunday school in the primary department (K-3rd grade) for many years and always tried to find inventive ways to keep the children involved in learning about Jesus. She also served in other ways at church at different times coordinating food for the sick and bereaved and filling in as church secretary when needed as well as just being the perfect example of the Godly woman. One of her proudest achievements though was as a mother. She was always available for whatever the boys needed serving as room mother more times than she could remember, as well as getting them to any activities they were involved in. She and James enjoyed traveling together through their almost 73 years of marriage with frequent trips to the Rio Grande Valley, the Davis Mountains, and Arkansas. After all the kids were out of the house, Edith looked forward to her yearly trips with her three sisters.
Edith was preceded in death by her husband, James; her son, Jim; and two of her sisters, Anna Jo O'Donnell and Dorothy Barnett.
She is survived by her son, Bob and his wife, Janie of College Station; her granddaughter, Brice Waldron and husband, Tommy of Sugar Land; her two great-grandchildren, Tate and Sloane Waldron; and grandson, Rob Tountas of College Station. She is also survived by her sister, Sarah Richardson of Seabrook, Texas; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Memorials may be made to Columbus Avenue Church of Christ, 307 N. 16th Street, Waco, TX 76701 or the charity of your choice.
Edith was born May 11, 1921 in Dawson, Texas to Vera Roberts and Robert LeRoy Matthews, the first of four sisters. She was raised in and around Dawson and graduated as salutatorian from Dawson High School. She decided to move to Waco to attend business school and took a room with a lady in the 2000 block of Herring Avenue.
Little did she know how her choice of housing location would affect the rest of her life. Living across the street was a family with two boys about her age and she "took a shine" to one of them, James Tountas. He would become the love of her life and they were married on December 27, 1941. Edith worked at First Federal Savings and Loan as a secretary. World War II started just a few weeks before they were married and James enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He would end up serving in Europe until the end of the war. Edith continued to work at First Federal while James was at war. Once he returned she became a housewife. In 1948, they had their first son, Jim, and five years later had their second son, Bob.
Edith's life revolved around being a homemaker, being involved in many different areas at Columbus Avenue Church of Christ and being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was well known for her cooking, especially her baking, which she continued to do up until her death. She would search the internet looking for new recipes to try. She continued into her late eighties to host an open house each Christmas for the members of her church where she would decorate and cook for all to enjoy. She taught Sunday school in the primary department (K-3rd grade) for many years and always tried to find inventive ways to keep the children involved in learning about Jesus. She also served in other ways at church at different times coordinating food for the sick and bereaved and filling in as church secretary when needed as well as just being the perfect example of the Godly woman. One of her proudest achievements though was as a mother. She was always available for whatever the boys needed serving as room mother more times than she could remember, as well as getting them to any activities they were involved in. She and James enjoyed traveling together through their almost 73 years of marriage with frequent trips to the Rio Grande Valley, the Davis Mountains, and Arkansas. After all the kids were out of the house, Edith looked forward to her yearly trips with her three sisters.
Edith was preceded in death by her husband, James; her son, Jim; and two of her sisters, Anna Jo O'Donnell and Dorothy Barnett.
She is survived by her son, Bob and his wife, Janie of College Station; her granddaughter, Brice Waldron and husband, Tommy of Sugar Land; her two great-grandchildren, Tate and Sloane Waldron; and grandson, Rob Tountas of College Station. She is also survived by her sister, Sarah Richardson of Seabrook, Texas; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Memorials may be made to Columbus Avenue Church of Christ, 307 N. 16th Street, Waco, TX 76701 or the charity of your choice.