FEBRUARY 18, 1946 – NOVEMBER 18, 2019
Long time Banker, community volunteer and San Antonio resident, Rebecca Barnum Cotton, “Becky”, passed away surrounded by love and support in her home on November 18th, 2019.
Becky had recently relocated to beautiful Lafayette, Colorado, outside of Boulder, to be near her beloved daughter, Alycia Cotton Schwartz, son in law, Peter Aston Schwartz III and adored grandchildren, Isaac Abel, Genevieve Irie and Oona Hazel.
Becky was born in Waxahachie, Texas in 1946 and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1964. She completed her BS & MS, Business degrees at Texas A& M Commerce in 1969 and attended SMU Dallas where she completed the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking program in 1981.
She briefly taught at Austin High School, in Austin, Texas, and then moved to San Antonio where she went on to a long career in Banking as a Trust Officer. She retired in 2017 as a Senior Vice President in the Wealth Management Department of Broadway Bank in San Antonio.
Becky volunteered at The Assistance League in San Antonio for over 20 years. When she wasn’t working or volunteering she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, who lovingly referred to her as “GB,” for Grandma Becky. She also greatly enjoyed birding, photography, music, collecting ironstone china and traveling with friends, with many memorable travel experiences over the years. She will always and forever be remembered and cherished by her family, and countless friends and colleagues that she made over the years wherever she worked, lived and traveled.
Becky was preceded in death by her grandparents Henry Bowie Barnum, Sr. and Myrtle Stevenson Barnum; her mother, Winnie Mae Lowe Barnum and her father, Henry Bowie Barnum, Jr. In addition to her daughter and family, Becky is also survived by her brother, Henry B. Barnum, III and wife Sandra of Duncanville, Texas; nephews James Henry Barnum and Roger Wilburn Barnum and niece Joan Barnum McGee; her sister, Karen Barnum Fallen of Lancaster, Texas; nieces Summer Fallen Nichols and Brooke Fallen; and sister, Gail Barnum McVey and husband, Al of Waxahachie, Texas; nieces Marlana Mossman and Clare Parsons.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas – 1315 Barbara Jordan Blvd., Austin, Texas 78723 or to The Assistance League of San Antonio – 2611 West Ave., San Antonio, Texas 78201.
Arrangements pending at The Natural Funeral in Lafayette, CO, with a memorial celebration planned in San Antonio, TX for Sunday, December 8th, 1:00pm at La Escondida Celebration Center. The address is 9888 Escondida Rd., Helotes, TX 78023. They mention that their Celebration Center is in the Texas Hill Country, a favorite place of Becky’s, and rustic, so please dress appropriately for the weather, and wear flats or boots for shoes, as the ground is a bit too uneven for high heels. If it gets cold and/or rainy, please consider a heavy coat and/or rain coat so you will be comfortable.
My prayers are with you all.
Rest in Peace dear big sister. We already miss you sorely.
OUT IN THE FIELD WITH GOD
The little cares that fretted me
I lost them yesterday
Among the fields, above the sea,
Among the winds at play,
Among the lowing of the herds,
The rustling of the trees,
Among the singing of the birds,
The humming of the bees.
The foolish fears of what might happen,
I cast them all away,
Among the clover-scented grass,
Among the new-mown hay,
Among the husking of the corn,
Where drowsy poppies nod,
Where ill thoughts die and good are born.
Out in the fields with God.
I will forever carry you in my heart, Sister Dear of Mine. I love you very much. We will see each other again.
What great memories Becky created and the hearts she touched. Such a beautiful lady and it appears very loved by family. I pray for the entire family and my heart hurts for you all.
Cheri Pollard
Co-worker of Gail Mcvey
I will continue to add pictures and information, quotes, stories, etc. Keep checking back in. Thanks, Alycia
p.s. My mom’s memorial service will be in the Texas Hill Country, and if the weather permits, the service will be outside, so please dress accordingly. If the weather turns rainy, we will move the service into the reception hall, which is covered, and has lots of heaters, but has walls on only 3 sides, so it remains open to the beautiful hill country scenery. I’m thinking it will be much warmer than our current snowy, 12 degree CO weather, but I want everyone to be aware so you will be dressed comfortably while celebrating my amazing Mom.
My thoughts are with you Alycia!! Much love to you..
So sorry to hear of the passing of Becky. I worked with her for many years with Broadway Bank as part of the Castroville Banking Center. My thoughts and prayers are with her family! May she rest in peace.
Becky was the exact age of my favorite niece and they sound so much alike—the perfect grandmother! I never had the pleasure of meeting Becky but her sister Karen was a co-worker of mine almost 50 years ago and became a dear friend. We have stayed in touch all these years.
Alycia, Karen, and Gail—my heart aches for you in your loss. I hope you will find comfort in the difficult days ahead.
My deepest sympathy.
I worked with Becky at Broadway Bank for years.
She was amazing!