Lou Cataline passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 5, surrounded by his family. He was a man of strong ethics, values, and faith. His life will be marked and remembered by the practice of patience, achieving balance in all things, and the notion that "attitude is everything."
Lou was born on December 11, 1938 in Philadelphia to Albert and Rose Cataline of Tacony, PA, who preceded him in death. Growing up in Tacony, Lou found himself busy with all sports including football, basketball, and baseball - baseball quickly became his favorite and he played throughout his youth. He was fortunate enough to be drafted by the Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins). In his first training camp in Florida, he was able to meet and try out behind Harmon Killebrew for the job as Washington's third baseman. When the baseball dream was over, he returned home to focus on his education. Over the next several years, he attended both Temple University in Philadelphia and Rutgers University in neighboring New Jersey, in pursuit of a business degree. He also played softball for the next 20 years, many of them with the Flatiron Softball Team of Philadelphia.
After college, he embarked on a 40-year career in the oil industry. His first job was with Tidewater Oil in Philadelphia. He also worked for Getty Oil (Newark, Delaware, and Tulsa, OK) and Texaco and Chevron (Houston, TX). He started his career in payroll and accounting and ended his career leading Texaco's internal quality and process improvement initiatives. Lou retired in 1998 after Chevron bought Texaco. Immediately after moving to Texas and during the working years, Lou was a fixture on the youth baseball fields of Kingwood/Forest Cove, coaching Louie and Danny's baseball teams and passing on his experience to younger players. There were few things he loved more than this. After the boys moved into high school, he could be found in his spot in the stands or along the fence watching - he never missed a game or a chance to talk about it afterwards.
Retirement suited Lou well and he spent lots of time traveling with Danny's college baseball team and sightseeing along the way. Lou and Rene spent almost all their time together and loved going back East to visit family, exploring new casinos, and spending weeks at a time on their favorite beach in South Padre Island, TX. When the grandkids came, Lou became Pop Pop and he was very active in their lives. Whether it was hours on the playground, watching movies, babysitting, or taking them to the ice cream shop, he never missed a chance to spoil them. The grandkids will remember pop quizzes on state capitals, math problems, and round after round of spelling bees - and there was never a shortage of silly knock-knock jokes. Just as he did with Louie and Danny, Pop Pop could frequently be found at grandkids volleyball and basketball games, dance recitals, or in the stands cheering on Amy's Ft. Bend Austin High varsity volleyball team. He was a 30-year member of St. Martha's Catholic Church, served on the M.U.D. board in Kingwood, and volunteered annually with AARP to prepare taxes for Senior Citizens.
He is survived by his loving wife, Rene, to whom he was married for 43 years; sons Louie (Kelli) of Tomball and Danny (Amy) of Katy, and grandchildren Audrey, Sarah and Lucy of Tomball and Holly of Katy.
A Celebration of Lou's Life will take place on Saturday, March 25, at 3pm at Kingwood Funeral Home and will be followed by a reception.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Kingwood/Forest Cove Baseball Association.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Kingwood Funeral Home.
March 27, 2017
Ken & Connie Hicks
Rene and Family, We are so sorry for your loss. We will forever remember Lou sharing stories and watching Kingwood High School baseball. Lou was an inspiration to our dear Nathan. God bless you and we will be praying for you all.
March 24, 2017
WALTER kleczkowski
Dear Renee and Family: Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Lou was a wonderful man and we had a great time at the baseball fields working with the kids. We will never forget the enthusiasm he had for coaching. May God Bless you all....Walt and Helen Kleczkowski
March 20, 2017
Gerri Larsen
Every time I saw you two together, the love was so obvious......Both of you were lucky to have that and I feel you both still have it
March 20, 2017
Angie Lattimore
Dear Rene and Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Lou was such a good man. I know you will miss him lots. Please treasure your memories and live life to the fullest as Lou would want you to do.
Sincerely,
Angie Lattimore
March 20, 2017
Liz and Bob Smith
Rene and Family; Our deepest sympathy goes to all of you. Lou touched and will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Liz and Bob Smith
March 18, 2017
Betty Jane Gallagher
Rene and Family,
You have my deepest sympathy and prayers. I know Lou was loved by many, he just had that type of personality. So sorry for your loss.
March 17, 2017
Sandy Smith
Rene,
What a wonderful man Lou was, I know your memories and love will give you and your family the peace and comfort you need! God's Blessings to you all!
Sandy Smith
March 16, 2017
Bobby Hollis
Kathy & I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to your family. Lou was the model of a man that any family would be proud to call their own. We thank God that he placed a man of Lou's values, outlook, and integrity in our lives.
March 15, 2017
Our deepest sympathy. Lou was one of a kind!
Maureen & Tom
March 13, 2017
Stan & Loweta Jorgensen
Rene, Louie, Danny and Family: Loweta and I extend our deepest sympathies to you all. We will always cherish Lou's memory and the lessons he taught our youth, especially when it came to ATTITUDE, or as Lou would say AT-TEE-TUDE. Everyone whose life was touched by Lou will forever be in his debt. He was a baseball coach, but more of a mentor as he taught our youth more about life and gave them tools for success. I'll remember his big smile and the way he said "You know what Stan". I'm guessing that the Lord just made up an expansion team and was in need of a superb manager. God bless you all!
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