Forrest Roland Fountain's Obituary
GRAVESIDE SERVICES – 10:30 AM Tuesday, July 26, 2016 in Myrtle Cemetery in Ennis.
INTERMENT – will be in Myrtle Cemetery in Ennis, Texas.
ARRANGEMENTS - Robertson Funeral Directors of Memphis.
Viewing will be held from 12:30-6:00 pm Sunday at the funeral home.
Mr. Fountain was born January 17, 1922 in Ennis. He grew up and lived in Ennis and graduated from Ennis High School. After graduation, he went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad. In March 1943, he enlisted in the military and he joined the Army Air Corp on March 15, 1943 in Atlantic City, New Jersey after the Pearl Harbor attacks. He served as a student officer in Cadet Corp. He flew the PT 19 & Tator Craft for training. He then went in to the US Army and was favored for voluntary marksman sniper training. Though he saw no action, he was a bugler for the 192nd Replacement Company on the Island of Lvzon in the Philippine Liberation Campaign. He earned the bronze star and a victory ribbon and was honorably discharged on February 24, 1946. He then went back to work for Southern Pacific Railroad for a total of 14 years before and after his service for his country. He attended the University of Cleveland, Ohio and the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor of Science in 1949. He studied secondary education at Hardin Simmons University and Abilene Christian College and then West Texas State University in Canyon. He received his life-earth science certificate. He met the love of his life Wanda Jean Campbell. He married Wanda Campbell on July 13, 1963 at the First Baptist Church in Houston. She was 21 and he was 41 wow. He taught biology, chemistry, physical and life earth science and special education at Avoca, Stamford ISD, and Memphis Junior High. Forrest earned himself a place in music history. He helped write the 1946 rousing music for the University of Houston fight song along with his school mate Marion Ford. Both students were musicians. Ford played the Piano and Fountain the French horn. Fountain heard the fight song tune in his head in an unlikely place. “I used to hear it on the transit bus”, he said. In 1994 the University honored Fountain for his contribution. Fountain said, “Ford would have been honored for his part, but he was no where to be found.” The University of Houston honored him at halftime during one of the Cougar Football games. In his later years, he worked as a door greeter at Wal-Mart in Childress for 13 years before finally retiring. Forrest loved the Lord as his personal savior, and is in Heaven with him. Our many thanks to all the good friends and people of Memphis, Texas for being there for Forrest and Wanda in their later years of need. That community is highly regarded by the surviving family. A special thanks to the people of First Baptist Church and Second Baptist Church of Amarillo for their love and support in making him an honorary member. God Bless You All. Hebrews 10:22-23.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY –his parents; his wife, Wanda on April 10, 2015; his sister, Natalia Zilich and husband Mike; a niece, Carolyn Fountain Ballew and husband J.D.; and a sister in law, Melinda Campbell.
SURVIVORS- nephew, Michael Zilich and wife Melissa and their children, Natalia and Andrew of Sugar Land; a niece, Linnea Duebell and husband Bob and their children, Robby and Lauri Hart. Great nieces and nephews, Gloria Cowan and husband Lee of Cedar Hill, David Ballew and wife Ann of Abilene, and Dan Ballew and wife Linda of Amarillo; his brothers in law, Ricky Campbell and wife Julie, Keith Campbell and sister Desiree.
MEMORIALS – In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to University of Houston Band Department / 120 School of Music Building / Houston, TX 77204-4017 Attn: Marc Martin.
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