Robert F. “Bob” Collins of Gallatin, passed away on Tuesday,
December 26, 2023. Funeral Service will be Friday, December 29th at
11:00 a.m. at Sellars Family Heritage at Gallatin, with Bill
Sorrells officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, December 28th
from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. and Friday, December 29th from 9:00 a.m. until
time of service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Crestview
Memory Gardens, with his grandchildren serving as pallbearers. In
lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Youth
Group, P.O. Box #369 Gallatin, TN 37066.
Mr. Collins is preceded in death by his parents, Homer B. Collins
and Anne Knighten Collins; siblings, Marion Clouser, David “Buddy”
Collins, Homer Collins, and Becky Folker. He is survived by wife of
47 years, Cheryl Weatherford Collins of Gallatin; children, Alicia
Beth Collins Varble of Gallatin, Pam Foster (Pat) of Gallatin, and
Robert F. “Bobby” Collins, Jr. (Vicky) of Hermitage; sister, Janie
Kirby (Wayne) of Alvaton, KY; grandchildren, Collin Varble, Lawson
Varble, Landon Varble, Hannah Varble, Patrick Foster (Kim), Daniel
Foster (Rachel), Ben Foster (Erin), Rob Collins (Emma), Nicholas
Collins, and Dillon Collins; great grandchildren, Hayden Foster,
Ainsley Foster, Channing Collins, Hope Foster, Abigail Foster,
Elijah Foster, Hudson Foster, and Howard Foster; and sitting
companion “Buddy”.
Bob was a member of and grew up in the Church of Christ, but joined
First Baptist Church in Gallatin with his wife. After his accident
23 years ago, he remained faithful and watched First Baptist’s
Service on line and then watched Paoli Church of Christ where his
nephew preached each week. He graduated from Madison High School and
later received an Associates Degree in Engineering from U.T.
Knoxville. Mr. Collins served in the National Guard and worked as a
deputy in Davidson County and part-time in Sumner County for years
under the Sheriff’s Richard Sutton, Mayo Wix, and Gary Wix. He was a
fingerprint expert for the courts and a professional photographer,
photographing his first wedding when he was 15 years old. Mr.
Collins sang in a quartet in high school, for a group named “The
Sports”, cutting two records and were back up to artists Brenda Lee
and Nick Boone. He built houses for Jim Walter Homes; worked for
Eaton Corporation as an engineer for 12 years, and served as
treasurer of the credit union for Eaton. Bob was manufacturing
manager for GF, Globe, and Murray of Ohio, where he built the
largest power paint system in the world. He was a finishing
consultant that received patents on finishes and other items. Bob
traveled to China, India, and Mexico, and throughout the United
States as a finishing/powder coating consultant. He wrote monthly
articles for Paint and Powder Magazine. Bob loved to travel, cruise,
and especially go to Florida to eat oysters. Online condolences may
be submitted at familyheritagefh.com.
Sellars Family Heritage at Gallatin, 100 E. Albert Gallatin Avenue,
Gallatin, TN 37066. 615-452-7115. Obituary line 615-452-5900.
E-mail: familyheritagefh@gmail.com. Website: familyheritagefh.com. |