Jesse Derrel Collins
April 21, 1923 ~ September 8, 2001
Resided in:
Fletcher, NC
Asheville Butterfly TrailHe was born in Dudley, GA, and was a son of the late Dennard and Carrie Lou Wood Collins of Ft. Valley, GA. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Emmett, of Reno, Nevada.
“Dee” served in the Army Air Corps during WW II. He belonged to many organizations during his life, including the Elks and Moose Clubs. He was also former president of the Marine Traffic Controllers Union and, for many years, was president of the Canal Zone Gun Club.
He traveled through much of the world and held a commercial pilot’s license. His many hobbies during his active life included competitive boat racing, rifle and shotgun competition, and he loved fishing. He took home trophies from the Grand American Shoot in Vandalia, Ohio as a young representative from Panama. He held a life membership in the NRA.
“Dee” participated in many volunteer and service organizations including fire departments and rescue units.
He worked, lived, and raised his family in the Panama Canal Zone, as did his father before him, retiring from the Civil Service as a Marine Traffic Controller in 1980.
Survivors include his devoted wife of 57 years, Thelma. Sons and daughters-in-law include Bob and Marsha Collins of Port Richey, FL, Ron Collins and Betty Shelton of Marathon, FL, Gary Collins and special friend Connie Koog of Galveston, TX, and daughter-in-law Phyllis Golden of Uvalde, Texas; four grandchildren, George of Astabula, OH, Michael of Texas City, TX, Heather of Sharon, PA, and Brandy of Boston, MA; three great-grandsons, Chris, Kyle and Cameron Collins of Texas City, TX.
He is also survived by his brothers, Albert and his wife Anita of Ft. Valley, GA, Hollis of Anaheim, CA, and Grover of El Segundo, CA; a sister, Wilma Taylor and husband, Richard, of Miami, FL; a devoted sister-in-law, Margaret Gillespie Williams Anderson of Asheville, NC; several nieces and nephews, and special lifelong friends including Carol and Ted Pendleton of Brandon, FL.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm Wednesday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Ronnie Owen officiating. Burial will be at Green Hills Cemetery.
His family will receive friends from 7 - 8:30 pm Tuesday at the funeral home.
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Dear Thelma, Gary, Bob, and Ron,
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. You have our very deep sympathy and prayers. We remember Dee from our years in the Port Captain’s Building and his always cheerful, gracious ways.
Linnea and Ron
Thelma & Family, When Charley and I moved next door I couldn’t have chosen any better neighbors. Dee would always have a smile and a friendly word at the fence. I can still see him over there working in the yard with Thelma or working on some project. I had missed seeing him in the last few months and I would keep an eye out for him just to see how he was doing. I would see him talking to Sam the mailman quite a bit and all of these images are burned in my memory. I feel for you and the pain that you are feeling. I know that Dee will be greatly missed. I hope it gives you some comfort to know that others are thinking about you and I’m praying that God will give you the strength that you need to get through this time of great sorrow