D. Corbit Collins, age 94, of Middletown, Delaware, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2016.
Corbit was born on the family dairy farm in Townsend, DE on January 12, 1922, to Wm. Morris Collins and Agnes Beulah Clark Collins. His early years were spent working hard on the farm, "looking at the back end of a horse," as he often said, but there were also good times with family and friends. He especially enjoyed hunting, and had fond memories of trips to the State Fair.
When he was a teenager, the Pierson family moved to a nearby farm, and he met, Horace, Joe and Mitch Pierson, who became lifelong friends. Most importantly, he met Inez Maude Pierson. They married a few years later, and remained faithfully in love for almost seventy years.
In 1949, Corbit went into partnership with Mr. James T. Shallcross on Oaklands Farm on Marl Pit Rd., Middletown, DE. He and his family lived on and worked this farm for twenty-eight years. In 1965, he purchased his father's farm on Union Church Rd. in Townsend and farmed that continuously ever since, recently in partnership with David Daniels, Sr. and his son, David Daniels, Jr.
Corbit loved farming, through good times and bad. He felt that it was what he was born to do. He also felt that it was his duty to give back to the Ag community in any way that he could be useful. He was a longtime member of the Southern States Cooperative, and served on the governing board. He was also a faithful member of the Farm Bureau, serving on many committees and as President and Vice President of the New Castle County chapter. He served on the board, and as President, of the Federal Land Bank in Delaware. He and Inez greatly enjoyed the travel, and the friendships, that arose from his involvement in these organizations.
Corbit was very proud of his role in the development of the Delaware Agricultural Museum. He and Inez were among the original founding members. He was active in many aspects of the planning and building, and once the museum was open to the public, he served in several capacities, including President of the Board of Directors, and Chairman for the Collections committee. They spent many hours conducting tours and volunteering on special event days. In 1989, he donated the Mill Lane school house, which is now part of a permanent exhibit at the museum.
The Old Union Church, Townsend, DE, was also close to his heart. He was a dedicated member of the Society and served as Treasurer and Head of the grounds committee. He was instrumental in raising funds for renovations, and for care of the surrounding cemetery.
Corbit gave back to his community in other ways as well. He delivered Meals on Wheels for over fifteen years. He was a member of the MOT area Rotary Club, and was a longtime (inactive) member of the Odessa Fire Co. He served on the New Castle County Adjustment board in the 1980s, and was a member of the Council on Soil and Water Conservation for the State of DE in the 1990s.
In addition to his parents, Corbit is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Inez, his brother, Wm. Morris Collins, and his half sister, Naomi Fellows.
He is survived by his daughters, Terri Leon of New Castle DE, and Kim Philipp and her husband Kurt, of Newark, DE; four grandchildren, Gwen Leon, Caryn Jochen and her husband Ed, Kate Philipp, and Michael Philipp and his wife Katie; and three great-grandchildren, Kayla Jochen, Crystle Jochen, and Owen Philipp.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 29th from 9-11 a.m. at the Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown, DE. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Townsend Cemetery, Townsend, DE.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Old Union Church Society, c/o Cecil Holland, 113 E. Redding St. Middletown DE 19709, or to Delaware Hospice, 16 Polly Drummond Center, Polly Drummond Shopping Center, Newark DE 19711.
To send online condolences visit
www.daniels-hutchison.com.Published by Middletown Transcript from Sep. 29 to Oct. 8, 2016.