Columbus Lewellen, age 88, passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Monday, January 16, 2017 at the First Baptist Church with Norman Rushing officiating and Chad King, Pastor, Assisting. Burial will follow in Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Columbus was born on May 19, 1928 in Childress to Timothy Madison Lewellen and Mattie Elizabeth (Heath) Lewellen. He married the love of his life, Dean Cagle, and they spent 69 years together in laughter and love. Columbus loved sports, especially Childress Bobcats football. In 1946 he received the MVP award in football. He coached Little League baseball for many years. He loved writing, and was published in a panhandle living history book called “Keep The Hoe Sharp and the Shotgun Loaded”. A Christian man, Columbus was a member of the First Baptist Church for over 60 years. He also was an avid bowler and was one of the oldest licensed car dealers in Texas. Above all else, his family was everything to him, and he took great pride in their accomplishments and successes. Columbus was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson Brian Sides and his brothers Tim, Elbert and Sam. Survivors include his wife, Dean (Cagle) Lewellen of Childress; son, Chris Lewellen of Childress; daughter Kim Sides and husband, Edwin of Childress; five grandchildren, Craig Sides and wife, Misty of Childress, Laryn Bellar and husband, Justin of Sudan, TX, Kara Bachausen and husband, Cory of Childress, Chris Michael Lewellen and wife, Kizzi of Childress, and Ashley Lewellen of Littlefield, TX; ten great-grandchildren, Evan, Jordie, Sophia and Kohen Bellar of Sudan, Cooper and Keagan Sides of Childress, Katie and Camrie Bachausen of Childress, Bentley Anderson of Littlefield, and Spencer Lewellen of Childress; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to CRMC Hospice at PO Box 1030, Childress, TX 79201.