David Wilson Collier

1934 - 2023

David Wilson Collier, age 89, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2023, at Monroe Health and Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He was born at the University of Virginia Hospital on September 23, 1934, and was the son of Clarence Collier and Bertha Collier Lester. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 33 years Isolde Gensinger Collier, married in 1958 and widowed in 1991, and by his devoted wife of 24 years Vreni Bithell Collier, married in 1999 and widowed in 2023. His daughter, Ursula Collier Strider, sister, Ruth Collier, grandparents Jesse E. and Dora Collier, stepdaughter Amy Bithell Brown, brothers Clarence Louin Collier and Jesse Edgar Collier, his wife Mary Jacqueline Collier, and brother-in-law William Cassity.

He is survived by his sister Peggy Collier Cassity of Jacksonville, FL, brother Robert Arnold Lester and his wife Flora Lester, nephew Miles Lester, of Salisbury, NC, son-in-law Bill Strider of Ranson, WV, granddaughters Anna Strider of Mont Belvieu, TX and Davia Sheets, her husband Brandon Sheets of Stuarts Draft, VA, stepson Tom Bithell, his wife Sherry Bithell and granddaughter Alexandra Bithell of Baltimore, MD, step son-in-law J.S. Brown and his wife Debbie Day of Blacksburg, VA, granddaughter Tanley Boadwine, her husband Joshua Boadwine, and great-granddaughter Verena Boadwine of Christiansburg, VA. Isolde's family also survives him, including brother-in-law Hans Geinsinger, his wife Gertrude Geinsinger of Ramstein, Germany, their daughters, and grandchildren along with many other cousins, nephews, nieces, in-laws, and friends across the seas.

David graduated high school from The Miller School of Albemarle in 1952. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1953, serving his country honorably for over 26 years and retiring as the grade of Chief Master Sergeant, a rank achieved by only 1% of our enlisted forces. During his service, David held several highly responsible management positions in Radio Electronic Communications. He was Station Commander of an Alaska Communications System station in Cold Bay, Alaska serving seventeen seafood canneries and villages along the Aleutian Chain. Before the innovation of satellite communications, his station provided the sole link to the outside world.

David was responsible for the management of a mainline wideband radio system in Southern Italy for two years. Here, his station provided vital radio communications to all US military forces serving in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern areas, where he received the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding performance. While assigned to Thailand during the Vietnam War, he managed a closed-circuit television system supporting AC-130 Gunship combat activity. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his significant contributions to the war effort. While assigned to an Engineering Branch in a Tactical Control Wing Headquarters in Germany during the Cold War, David's expertise was a key component in developing contingency plans for deploying mobile radio, radar, and telephone systems used to support the U.S. Army ground units in a simulated war environment. The procedures he developed became the standard for deploying mobile radio and radar systems in Europe in support of NATO war preparation. He was awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal at the culmination of his five-year tour in Europe.

Leaving Europe, David was selected to manage the Quality Control Inspection Unit supporting the President of the United States at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. This was a vast responsibility in that this sensitive equipment was scattered geographically all over the Washington DC area and the State of Maryland. It provided the President with uninterrupted worldwide communications that were required to always be fully operational. In his final year of active duty, he received high recognition and was awarded his second Air Force Meritorious Service Medal.

David's dedication and perseverance continued in his education, as he attended night school over his years of active-duty service to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Maryland. David served his family and friends by proudly hosting get-togethers for his alumni class at Miller School. David was a dedicated volunteer of over twenty years at a local nursing facility and was a long-time attendee and volunteer of Chestnut Grove Baptist Church in Earlysville, VA.

David was known for his kind demeanor and courageous heart. He is a cherished brother, loving husband, beloved grandfather, and special friend to many. In lieu of flowers, it was David's wish that memorial donations be made to The Miller School Alumni Association or the Hospice of the Piedmont.

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024, a graveside memorial service, with military honors, will be conducted by Pastor Lance King at the family plot in Chestnut Grove Baptist Church cemetery in Earlysville, VA.