CHARLES A. LUMMUS

Charles and Minnie Lummus have been reunited in Heaven. Charles Allen Lummus joined his beloved Minnie on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, just two weeks shy of his 85th birthday.

Charles was born July 27, 1936, in Limestone County to parents Allen and Lorene Lummus. In his early years, his family moved frequently as his dad looked for work in farming. Charles worked with his dad in the fields, and he was proud to say that he could pick cotton alongside the best of field hands.

One of those stops was near Jewett, where he attended Jewett High School. There, one of the great love stories of all time began when he met Minnie Lou Clute and fell madly in love. Before long, Charles had persuaded Minnie that he couldn’t live without her, and they eloped to Louisiana where it was legal to be married at ages 15 and 17 without parental permission. They married on Feb. 10, 1954, and for the next 63 years, they did not spend a night apart.

Throughout their long working careers, they never wanted to be separated, so they always found jobs where they could be together. After dropping out of tenth grade, they worked at the Mexia Textile Mill, and when the Textile Mill closed, they went to work for ABrandt Furniture Factory. They were thrifty and saved as much of every paycheck as they could. In spite of making minimum wage plus production for most of their working lives, they managed to save enough money to buy the laundromat in Groesbeck and a house. They worked side by side at Lummus Speed Queen – 16 hours a day, six days a week – for 16 years before retiring.

They always wanted children, but as the years went by, no baby arrived. Then, after 21 years of marriage, a miracle happened and Minnie discovered that she was pregnant. They were thrilled, but their joy was cut short when their son, Cal Jr., died at birth on Dec. 15, 1975.

Two years later, another miracle happened when their daughter, Crala Dawn, arrived. Charles called her his Dumplin’ Darlin’, and he worked hard to ensure that Crala wanted for nothing. He was her tireless coach and biggest cheerleader, attending every gymnastics meet, game and event with video camera in hand.

He did it all again for his grandbabies. Crala’s four children – Madison, Memphis, Landrie and Koda – were the light of his life, and he and Minnie never missed a game or event. Even after Minnie’s death, he was always there, cheering from the sidelines and making sure they knew he loved them.

After Minnie died in 2017, Charles was lost without her, and he told anyone who would listen that he wanted to go be with her in Heaven. In the last few years, he drove almost every day to their farm at Lost Prairie to feed the horses, always stopping at Minnie’s grave to tend it and talk to her.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Minnie Lou Clute Lummus, his son, Cal Jr., his parents, Allen and Lorene Lummus, and his sister, Bobbie Strother.

He is survived by his daughter, Crala, and her husband, Jason Pringle, and four grandchildren, Madison, Memphis, Landrie and Koda, all of whom reside in Groesbeck. He is also survived by two brothers, Bill Lummus of Jewett and Dan Lummus of Long Lake, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Friday, July 16, at Groesbeck Funeral Home, with Pastor Ricky Waller presiding. Charles was buried at Lost Prairie Cemetery, next to Minnie and their baby son.

Pallbearers included Eric Shamblin, Brandon Shamblin, Mil Clute, Jamie Clute, Jeff Lummus, Memphis Waddle and Koda Pringle.

Visit www.groesbeckfuneralhome.com to leave messages of condolence on the guestbook.