Private Obed Lee McCollum was born on August 6, 1920. He was the son of James Edgar McCollum and Ada Lola Petterson-McCollum. He had six brothers, Kenneth Ewell McCollum, Cecil McCollum, Joe McCollum, Fred McCollum, Ernest McCollum, and Floyd McCollum. He had three sisters, Margaret Linkinfelter, Mrs. Calvin Stenson, and Mrs. Clifford Johnson. He was married to Gladys Payne and had two sons, Danny and Billy.
He enlisted for military service on June 3, 1944, in Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He served in the Pacific Theater with the 128th Infantry Medical Detachment. He died of wounds on April 10, 1945 in Luzon, Philippines. His body was returned to the United States from Manila, Philippines, aboard the U.S. Army Transport Crain. He is buried at Pine Grove Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Blount County, Tennessee.
His obituary was published in the Maryville Enterprise on August 5, 1948:
Pvt. Obed L., of Sevierville Road, killed on Luzon, April 10, 1945, while serving with the 128th Infantry Medical Detachment. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Gladys Payne McCollum, two sons, Danny and Billy; mother, Mrs. Lola McCollum, Greenback; three sisters, Mrs. Burl Linginfelter, Greenback; Mrs. Calvin Stenson, Mrs. Clifford Johnson, of Kentucky; six brothers, Cecil, Fred, Ernest, Ewell, Floyd of Greenback, Joe of Maryville. The funeral services will be held Saturday at 3:30 at Pine Grove Presbyterian Church, Rev. Andy Pellaham is to officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery. VFW 5154 will be in charge at the grave.
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 6 August 1920
- Date of death: 10 April 1945
- County: Blount
- Hometown: Maryville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 128th Infantry Medical Detachment
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Pine Grove Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Blount County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VI, Middle Panel
- Sponsored by: Lisa Morgan
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