In Loving Memory

Edwin Sidebottom

Edwin Sidebottom
August 31, 1923
June 18, 2015
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Obituary

Edwin Sidebottom passed away at his home Thursday, June 18, 2015.

Visitation will be Monday, June 22nd from 6-8 p.m. in Brenham Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be Tuesday, June 23rd at 10 a.m. in First United Methodist Church. Graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

Edwin Sidebottom was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on August 31, 1923 to William Stanley Sidebottom and Edna Hammer Sidebottom. He graduated from Central High School there and joined the Navy at eighteen. He had attempted to join the army but was foiled when he was seventeen. He served at sea and became chief petty officer, the highest rank one could achieve with his vision limitations.

After WWII, he moved to Houston and returned to college. He married Mary Frances Weaver on July 5, 1946. They made their home in Houston. He took night classes and worked his way through a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Houston. By the time he graduated in 1951, they had three children. A fourth was born a year later.

He worked for the Lummus Company (now ABB Lummus) from 1954 until his retirement. He started in the drafting department and eventually became project manager for supervising the building of several refineries, including one in Guatemala. By the time he retired, he was in charge of two of the five departments for the Houston office. He was the Manager of Projects (which oversaw all the projects on which the company worked) and was also the Manager of Engineering. In a video the company made, he was called Mr. Lummus.

Edwin was also involved in Houston with starting Ashford United Methodist Church. He built all the original sanctuary furniture and altar rails for it as well as bringing his tractor in to mow the lawn regularly. He served as deacon and elder there. When he retired, Edwin and Frances moved to Brenham. They had purchased a farm, which brought him great delight. In Brenham he was part of the Methodist Men. He donated his efforts to supervise the building and construction of a new roof for First United Methodist Church of Brenham. He was also involved in the original Faith Mission project, an extension of the church’s outreach.

He was a faithful supporter of the UH Alumni Association, Faith Mission, Cal Farley’s Boy’s Ranch, and many other organizations. He was a longtime Republican. He was also involved in taking care of his family. He took care of his sister Rosalie, his mother Edna Hammer Sidebottom, his great aunt Wilma Wilson, and his mother-in-law Josie Weaver Scroggins.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Frances Sidebottom, his four daughters Kathy Markward, Ruth Markart, Jean Sidebottom, and Carol Johnson. He also semi-adopted a younger cousin, Larry Hammer, whom he took in, and regarded as the son he never had. He was greatly beloved by his eight grandchildren. His family includes fifteen great grandchildren, soon to be eighteen, plus two step great grandchildren as well as additional nieces and nephews and assorted cousins. He was predeceased by two sisters, Rosalie Sidebottom and Shirley Buttecali, and two brothers, Kenneth Sidebottom and Robert Sidebottom. His father and stepmother, William Stanley Sidebottom and Nelly Sidebottom, and his mother Edna Hammer Sidebottom also are gone.

He was a very memorable person. He entered a hospital to visit Frances a year or two ago and stunned the staff by asking if they had wi-fi. He loved to post on Facebook, and stir up controversy. He challenged his grandchildren on the issues of the day. For a number of years he authored a newsletter for his navy buddies and all the guys who had served on the ship, PC1132 “The Gray Ghost”, whether at the same time he was there or not. He faithfully wrote this for several years, and kept up with the widows and families as the others passed away. He wrote the last column this month.

Edwin still read two newspapers every day, not to mention watching news shows for hours at a time. He treasured his time on the internet. He had a clear mind and kept up with his own bills. He was fully mobile until six months before he died. He gave up his truck. He was put on oxygen treatment. When he began falling because of low oxygen levels, he started to use a cane and then a walker. He passed out and died quickly with little pain at home. He will be greatly missed, but more importantly he will be remembered as a standard for a great man.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX 77833. 979.836.3611 Share condolences at www.BrenhamMemorialChapel.com.