Barry "Bart" Duane Collins

Barry “Bart” Duane Collins, 77, passed away on Thursday, August 29, 2024, as a result of an auto accident. 

He was born in Cambria County, PA, on November 8, 1946, to the late Louis Collins and Thelma Miller Collins. 

Bart was a proud 1972 graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Electrical Design Engineering. A passionate alumnus, Bart supported Penn State by his regular attendance at Football games and philanthropy. He was also a proud United States Navy Veteran and served in the Vietnam War on the USS Saratoga. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation. He routinely attended the USS Saratoga reunion in Jacksonville, Florida. Bart’s life-long passion for music began in junior high school and continued throughout his life. He played drums, cello, and Tuba, but his true love was the Tuba. He was an active, very involved member of the Salem Band for 53 years, serving on the Board of Directors and as treasurer for many years. Bart played with what started as the Bethabara Concert Band which became the Triad Community band. He was a long-standing participant of Tuba Christmas and organized concerts for many years. Bart was also a member of a variety of tuba and brass ensembles in between his other band responsibilities. Bart retired from Lucent Technologies after a long career with Western Electric and AT&T. Bart was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America and owns several classic cars. He thoroughly enjoyed Cars and Coffee and local Cruise-Ins. Friends describe Bart as larger than life! He was a dependable, loving friend, brother, uncle, and partner. To know Bart was to love him. He was larger than life and made new friends everywhere he went. Friends and family would describe Bart as “quite a character”.

In addition to his parents, Barry was preceded in death by his loving wife of 44 years, Linda Stephens Collins; and devoted best friend, his Rottweiler, “Patton".

Left to cherish his memory are his sister, Carol Marshall (Ed); sister-in-law, Suzanne “Suzi” Westmoreland (Jim); sister-in-law, Nancy Karriker (Dana); nephews, Jeffery Marshall (Crystal), Brent Westmoreland (Lilah), Ryan Westmoreland (Adrianne), and Adam Westmoreland (Allison); nieces, Kelly Owens (Ross) and Laura Diethelm (David); dear friend and partner in adventure, Linda Marie Jacober; as well as many grand-nieces and nephews. Also his two King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, Cara and Thane.

A memorial service in Bart’s honor will be held at Hayworth-Miller Chapel, Kernersville, NC on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Noon. An informal gathering will be held directly after the service at Gypsy Road Brewing Company, Kernersville, NC.

Donations may be made to the church Bart attended while growing up, Hastings Methodist Church at Spangler Street & 4th Ave., Hastings, PA 16646 or to Union Cemetery at 433 Bridge St, Hastings, PA 16646. 

Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel is assisting the family.