Alan Collier

Alan Gray Collier, December 10, 1932 – November 21, 2025

Alan passed away peacefully while surrounded by family on November 21, 2025.

Alan was born on December 10, 1932, to Annie Lee Collier and James Gray Collier in Nashville, Tennessee. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Master of Arts in Mathematics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He was also a brother in Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He began his career at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (later known as Lockheed Martin) as a computer programmer in Marietta, Georgia. He was drafted into the Army on his 22nd birthday on December 10, 1954. While in the Army, he was stationed at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, working in the Analysis & Reconciliation Section of the Army's Finance Department. After getting out of the Army, he returned to Lockheed Martin, before starting at Teledyne Brown Engineering in Huntsville, Alabama as a computer programmer. It was here that he met Cynthia Holcombe, who became his wife. Alan and Cynthia were married in Chickasaw, Alabama on July 1, 1967. His next job was for Computer Sciences Corporation, also in Huntsville, where he continued his work as a computer programmer. He then worked for GE Corporation out of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, moving to Picayune, Mississippi to reside. His next and final full time job was at the Foreign Science & Technology Center (FSTC), later becoming the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC), in Charlottesville, Virginia. He retired from the National Ground Intelligence Center in December 2000. Alan worked part-time for the Albemarle Tax and Equalization Board after retirement from NGIC.

Alan and Cynthia assisted with campaign efforts for local political candidates they supported through event attendance, mailings, and lots of door-knocking.

Alan thoroughly enjoyed going out to eat at Riverside North, Martin's Grill, Michael's Diner, and Vinny's Italian Grill. He always enjoyed watching people's faces light up when getting two dollar bills from him as a tip.

Alan is survived by his children, Susan April Collier Bond (Mark), William Douglass Collier (Carrie), and Emily Gail Collier Stacy (Jay). In addition to his children, he is survived by five grandchildren, Kimberly, Katherine, Sarah, Caleb, and Douglass, and a first cousin, Jim Collier. He also leaves behind his good friend and neighbor, Charles Hunt.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Cynthia Collier, in 2021.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Rosewood Village for taking good care of him (he was lovingly known as "Grandpa") during the past couple of years, and the staff of Trinity Hospice for assisting during the last week.

A funeral service will be held at Hill and Wood Funeral Services in Charlottesville, Va on Saturday, December 13 ,2025 at 11:00 am followed by a graveside service at Holly Memorial Gardens.