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Michael A. 'Mike' Collins Winchester, VA QCWA # 15648 |
Mr. Collins was born in 1927, in Winchester, Virginia, at the Conner homeplace, the son of the late James C. Collins and Julia Collins Grubb and step-father, Christopher Ray Grubb. Mr. Collins attended school at John Kerr, John Handley and Kernstown and was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 2, in Winchester, Virginia. Mr. Collins was a drummer with the Frederick County Band under the direction of Paul Riley.
He worked for Northern Virginia Power Company which became Potomac Edison. Later he moved to the line department of Allegheny Power Companies retiring after more than 51 years of service on February 1, 1997 and was awarded a certificate for 18 years of perfect attendance.
Mr. Collins was the last surviving original charter member of the Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club having attended for 63 years and held all offices. He was an avid Ham Radio Operator with the call letters of W4ACC. Mr. Collins was net Control for Northern Virginia Emergency 10 meter AM Net and was an integral part of SVARC's Annual HamFest for 61 years.
Mr. Collins was also a member of the Woodman of the World Lodge #34. As an avid Stock Car fan, in the years of short track racing, he visited many race tracks such as Martinsville, Charlotte and Darlington. He was a "Ford" man even today in NASCAR racing. He was a member of the Kernstown United Methodist Church.
His wife of 54 years, the former Dorothy Mae "Dot" Warren, whom he married on July 15, 1951, in Woodstock, Virginia, preceded him in death on August 11, 2006.
Surviving is a son, Martin A. "Marty" Collins, and wife, Tami, of Yellow Spring, West Virginia; three grandchildren, Jeremiah M. Collins, of Winchester, Virginia, Isaiah M. Collins, of Morgantown, West Virginia and Sierra W. Collins and her boyfriend of 7 years, Curtiss B. Miller, of Front Royal, Virginia; two sisters-in-law; Marie Stow and Kay McCullough both of Virginia Beach, Virginia; a brother-in-law, Wayne B. Warren of Winchester, Virginia and several cousins.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at Omps Funeral Home Amherst Chapel with Reverend Clay Knick and Reverend Charles Harless officiating. Interment will be in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia.
Pallbearers will be Carroll Youngblood, Butch Bloxom, Jimmy Strosnider, Sam Long, Royce Crocker, Jim Miller, Tom Cross and Ray Stelzl.
Family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Kernstown United Methodist Church, 3239 Valley Pike, Winchester, Virginia, 22602 or Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Virginia 22601