Robert T. Collins

Robert T. "Bob" Collins went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 7, 2015.  He was 95.  Bob was born August 28, 1919 to George and Theresa Collins on Kibler Rd., in Greensboro, MD.

Bob loved his church, family, and his wife Elizabeth, who worked by his side their entire 77 years of marriage.  He enjoyed going to farm sales where he bought tools and what he called "valuables" whether he needed them or not.

Bob farmed most of his life.  When not farming, he used his excellent carpenter skills to build homes and do repair work that nobody else wanted to tackle.  When he was first married and worked at DuPont's, he would come home after his night shift and pull weeds and work in the field for whoever would pay him, usually for a few cents an hour, to help support his young family. During that same time, the highlight of the Collins week was when his kids and their friends and neighbors came over after church on Sundays to play ball  He loved telling stories about his family life. He enjoyed talking about what mischief his children got in when they were young and how he could only afford shoes for them once a year. Another favorite story was when the kids got a wagon for Christmas, and he would laugh so hard telling about how they all tried to outsmart one another to get time to play with it. His family and friends will always remember Bob for his hard work, the love he had for his wife and family, and his Christian faith and values.

Bob was a charter member of the Burrsville Ruritan and served as its president in 1965.  He is the only continuous original lifetime charter member of the club.  For many years he and his wife Elizabeth supported the Ruritan club through their fundraising venues, especially their oyster suppers.  He was also a charter member of the Kent County Farm Bureau holding one of its first meetings in the Collins home.  He was a member of the Union United Methodist Church for 66 years.  He also owned and operated the Collins Root Beer Stand and hauled ice during the Delaware State Fair for the past 40 years.

Bob is preceded in death by a son, Frank E. Collins; grandchildren, Becky and Doug Collins; great grandchildren, Brett Gustafson and Nathan Thompson; an adopted son, K.P. Outten; sister, Viola; and two brothers Elmer and Roscoe Collins.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; five sons, Robert "Bobby" L. (Dorothy) Collins, Kenneth "Snooky" (Delores) Collins, George (Brenda) Collins, Richard "Dickie" (Ellen) Collins, Bruce (Barbara) Collins; daughter, Thelma "Sugar Pie" (Paul) Gustafson, all of Harrington.  He is also survived by a daughter in law, Linda Collins Maxwell of Magnolia; sisters, Mary Stubbs of Harrington, Helen McFadden of Smyrna; ten grandchildren, numerous great and great great grandchildren; and a special family member Earl Custer.

Services will be held on Monday, July 13, at 11 am, at the Melvin Funeral Home, 15522 South DuPont Hwy, Harrington.  A visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, July 12th from 5 to 9 PM.  Interment will be at Hollywood Cemetery, Harrington.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Burrsville Ruritan Club, c/o Wayne Spicher, 10913 Knife Box Road, Denton, MD 21629 or the Union United Methodist Church, c/o Ginger Hendricks, 2378 Ingram Branch Road, Harrington, DE 19952.

Arrangements are by the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home Inc, Harrington, DE.  Visit us at www.melvinfuneralhome.com to send flowers or sign condolence book.

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