Pat G. Collins

Mr. Pat G. Collins, 84, of Advance NC passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 3:30 p.m., the same day as his arrival in 1930. He was born on September 13, 1930 in Shady Point, OK to Artie and Claude Collins. After high school graduation from Panama, OK, he entered the Air Force in 1948 and was schooled in jet and electrical mechanics. As Staff Sergeant and Flight Chief he maintained the jets for fighter pilots' missions in Korea; 12th FTR BMB SQDN, 5th A.F. Okla City, 18th FTR BMB GP, 18th FTR BMB Wing. After discharge he was employed by Douglas Aircraft of Tulsa OK. During that time he attended Tulsa University and in 1957 he transferred to Okla State University in Stillwater and graduated in 1960 in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation he was employed by Western Electric (AT&T, Alcatel Lucent). His first assignment as an engineer was in Bay City, MI and Defoe Shipyard on guided missile destroyers. As an Engineer working with the US Navy, this job took him to various naval bases; Philadelphia, Camden, New Jersey, Norfolk, VA and Washington DC (Bureau of Naval Weapons). Pat returned to Western Electric in Winston-Salem in 1966 and was lead engineer in various capacities including documentation and computer graphics. Pat retired from Alcatel Lucent in 1989. He was always active in all aspects of his church; in Winston and also in Casper, WY. Pat was a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Advance where he continued to enjoy golf, music, travel, gardening, family, friends and bridge. His great joy was coaching Little League softball. He was preceded in death by his son, Mark W. Collins: his parents; and eight brothers, Bill, Junior, John, Ernest, Horace, James, Herbert and Kenneth. Pat is survived by his wife of 62 years, Billie W. Collins; his daughter, Patricia L. Nelson (Tim); his grandson, Jason Collins of Greeley, CO; granddaughter, Taylor Lynn Collins of Casper, WY and a brother, Henry Collins (Martha) of Okla. City. He is also survived by a host of nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church with Dr. J. Barry Lemons and Assistant Pastor, Rebecca Allis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mark Collins Male Nursing Scholarship fund at: Casper College Foundation, Nursing Scholarship, 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601; Hospice & Palliative Care Center, Rowan County, Salisbury NC or to the Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com. A special thanks to Davie County Home Health of Mocksville, Palliative Care and Hospice in Rowan County, Hospice Home in Salisbury and the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem.

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