George Edward Collins

George Edward Collins, 81, of Taylorsville, passed away on September 20, 2019 surrounded by his family at his home. Born October 16, 1937 in Mohegan, WV, he was the son of the late Henry Collins and Nannie Lee Gillespie Collins. He served 20 years in the U S Navy and then was employed with Guardian Industries of Ohio and the Camfil-Farr Company of Conover, NC.

George was a member of the Church of God in West Virginia. He was an active member of the Ruritan Club of Bethlehem, VFW, American Legion, Shriner’s International, Eastern Star, 366 Masonic Lodge of Ohio, Scottish Rites and Fleet Reserve Assn. He loved basketball, fishing, golf and watching all sports. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He collected smurfs and was the marble champion in McDowell County, West Virginia.

In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by his daughter, Mildred Collins; brothers, Henry Collins and Marvin Collins; and sister, Mary Alice Swiegard.

George is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Collins of the home; daughters, Sheila (James) Menge, of Mechanicsville, MD, Nancy (Tim) Garrison, of Conover, NC, Kathryn (Bryce Maretzki) Collins of Baltimore, MD; sisters, Edna Woods of Finley, Ohio, Demmie (Jim) Tidwell of Havana, FL, and Mildred (Gregory) Spencer of Chapin, SC; and grandchildren, Timothy Edward Garrison of Conover and Annika Collins Maretzki of Baltimore, MD.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. at Drum Funeral Home, Hickory prior to the service.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2019 in the Chapel of Drum Funeral Home in Hickory with Pastor Darrell Chase officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Hickory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Bethlehem Ruritan Club, P O Box 6006, Hickory, NC 28601.

Condolences may be sent to the Collins family at www.drumfh-hickory.com.

The Collins family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 940 29th Ave NE, Hickory, NC.