George Collins

LAUREL - George Collins, of Laurel, passed away peacefully of natural causes early Sunday evening, Dec. 12, 2010, at the Methodist Manor House in Seaford, where he had been residing as of earlier this year. He was 82 years old. He was born on Dec. 23, 1927, in Brookview, Md., the son of the late Minos H. and Edith Murphy Collins formerly of Rhodesdale, Md. Mr. Collins grew up in the Brookview-Rhodesdale area and attended the public school system and graduated from the Hurlock High School in 1946 before attending Salisbury State Teachers' College. Mr. Collins later transferred to Johns Hopkins University after being accepted into the Air Force R.O.T.C. program, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering. Mr. Collins then served active duty "state-side" during the Korean War as part of a "testing" crew and served at various bases around the country. Returning from service he married his wife of 58 years, Diane M. Newsom, of Gulfport, Mississippi, and also started his 39 year career with the then Eastern Shore Public Utility Co., which later became the Delmarva Power & Light Co. Mr. Collins had served several years at both the Vienna Power Station and the Indian River Power Station achieving plant Superintendent at Indian River and assistant head of production for the Southern Division before retiring in 1988 from the Salisbury office. Mr. Collins had also served 39 years with the Air Force Reserves as a liaison officer to the United States Air Force Academy, helping to counsel young men and women who were applying to attend the academy. Mr. Collins had over 50 years continuous service with Del. Chapter of the American Red Cross. Mr. Collins also had served several years as an active board member of the United Methodist Council of the Eastern Shore. Other civic accomplishments were being a member of the Masonic Lodge of East New Market, assistant Scout Master for the Boy Scouts, and holding various offices with churches and other civic organizations over the years. Mr. and Mrs. Collins were members of the Dance Cotillion and the Vingt Cinq Club (pron. van sank), a 25 year club of current or retired employees of the Delmarva Power & Light Co. Mr. Collins was preceded in death by his eldest son, Timothy N. Collins in February 2000 and his sister, Vera C. Mason of Portsmouth, R.I. in October 2005. He is survived by his wife, Diane M. Collins, a nephew, Sam Readman, Jr. of Miami, FL, a niece, Peyton Redman of Gulfport, Miss., brother-in-law, Sam Readman, Sr. of Gulfport, Miss., a brother-in-law, James Mason of Portsmouth, RI, a granddaughter, Megan G. Collins of Wilmington, DE, daughter-in-law, Robin Collins also of Wilmington, a son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Christal Collins of Rhodesdale, MD, and his grandchildren, Jacob and Ava Collins both of Rhodesdale. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Framptom Funeral Home in Federalsburg with Rev. Jimmy Harper officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will follow at Brookview United Methodist Church Cemetery. Fellowship and dinner will follow at the Eldorado-Brookview Volunteer Fire Co. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Alzheimer's Association Eastern Shore Chapter, 209 C Milford St., Salisbury, MD 21804 or to American Diabetes Assoc., 114 Baptist St., Salisbury, MD 21801. To share memories with the family please visit, www.framptom.com.